The Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Herzl Halevi, spoke this evening at the central IDF ceremony marking 50 years since the Yom Kippur War: "Israel knows how to set aside disagreements and attack."
"We must address every statement made by our enemies, whether in words or deeds; not to underestimate them and not to overestimate ourselves," said the Chief of Staff in his speech. "We must always be prepared for a multi-dimensional and extensive military confrontation, which will involve close contact and high friction with the enemy, resulting in casualties and losses, including on the home front.
"Our enemies may be tempted to see an advantage in the multi-dimensional threat against us. It is better that they know that when Israel is threatened, it knows how to mobilize all its resources, set aside differences, and go on the offensive. That's how it was in the Yom Kippur War, and that's how it will be today if necessary."
"It's impossible not to wonder: can such coherence exist only when facing such a great threat? For the State of Israel, the IDF is the one that shields it from numerous enemies. It is the responsibility of all of us to preserve it. Because it is the foundation of our secure existence here, and our security is paramount above all else."