Eyal Zamir, Israel's new Chief of Staff pens letter at the Kotel - Here's what he said - and how he plans to keep Israel safe

Under the ancient stones of the Western Wall, where history whispers and hope clings, two men in uniform stood side by side Wednesday—one stepping down, the other stepping up. Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the outgoing IDF Chief of Staff, and Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, his successor, arrived at the sacred plaza to mark a transition heavy with the weight of war.

Hours after Zamir formally assumed command as the 24th Chief of Staff, vowing to “lead the IDF to victory,” they turned to prayer—a ritual as old as the role itself, yet sharpened by a nation’s ache.

Joined by Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, guardian of the Wall, and IDF Chief Rabbi Brig. Gen. Eyal Karim, they recited Psalms, their voices rising for the safety of soldiers and the state’s endurance.

A special plea pierced the air—for the hostages and missing, still lost to Gaza’s shadows. Halevi, who’d borne 17 months of unrelenting conflict, and Zamir, now inheriting it, slipped personal notes into the Wall’s crevices—silent wishes amid a cacophony of struggle. In the guestbook, their pens scratched out a final act of unity, captured by the Western Wall Heritage Foundation’s lens.

Here's what he said:

“5th of Adar 5785

March 5, 2025

At the Western Wall, where the Temple once stood, the foundations of the Jewish people were established.

We will act with determination and believe in our ability to defend the Land of Israel and protect Jews both in Israel and around the world.

I pray for the hostages and for the safety of those who defend our nation—soldiers, security forces, and all who stand guard for Israel.

‏כי מציון תצא תורה

Major General Eyal Zamir”

Amid the scathing investigations of October 7, the incoming Chief of Staff brought a fresh spirit to the army’s values. Speaking at the rank conferment ceremony, he emphasized the IDF’s commitment to the values of victory and criticized the General Staff’s conduct prior to the massacre.

In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Zamir addressed the IDF’s regular, career, and reserve soldiers: "The brunt of the burden rests on your shoulders. You are the spearhead of Zionism and the defenders of the Jewish people. My brothers-in-arms, through your courage and sacrifice, you have been—and remain—the force driving change for the IDF and Israeli society. We will redouble our efforts to strengthen you. The entire IDF will work for your sake. Together, we are harnessed to a single, intertwined, and sacred mission—defending the state, triumphing in battle, and deciding the campaign."

"I assume command of the IDF today with reverence and humility. I am aware of the heavy responsibility placed upon me. This shift is unlike any other. This is a historic moment of trial. On the morning of October 7, the IDF failed in its mission. The border was breached. Our enemies infiltrated our communities, slaughtering our infants, children, women, and brothers. From the ashes, the people of Israel rose and once again proved their strength and unity in times of trial. Citizens and soldiers charged into contact, stormed forward, and fought as individuals and small units, some even paying with their lives."

"They proved to us that we are brothers. The IDF achieved impressive feats on the battlefield. We prevailed in battles in Gaza and Lebanon, struck in Yemen and Iran. The murderous terror organization Hamas suffered a severe blow, yet it has not been defeated. The mission remains incomplete."

"We will never let fade from our sight the memory of our sons and daughters—the beautiful, pure-hearted ones—fleeing for their lives from a party in an unplowed field, hunted by predators. We will engrave in our hearts entire families, the terrified gazes of children and their parents, slaughtered and burned—in Nir Oz, Be’eri, Kfar Aza, Nahal Oz, Netiv HaAsara, Sderot, and Ofakim."

"We will never forget the cries, the pleas for help in the face of the satanic, merciless evil of the murderers. We will neither forgive nor forget. This is a war of survival! We will persist in the campaign to bring back our hostages and achieve victory. The mission entrusted to me from this day is clear: to lead the IDF to victory, as it is written in Psalms, ‘I will pursue my enemies and overtake them; I will not turn back until they are consumed.’ In collaboration with all branches of security, we will strike with tremendous force anyone who dares to harm the State of Israel and its citizens."

"We will work to expand the integration of all populations into all IDF units"Against the backdrop of debates over the conscription law, Zamir addressed the importance of service by all segments of Israel’s population: "The IDF is the best army in the world because its ranks are filled with the best soldiers and commanders—regular, career, and reserve. The people are its open secret, the source of the IDF’s strength. Equipped with spirit, faith, and irreplaceable determination, the IDF—by its original and enduring definition—is the people’s army, from which it draws its power. The IDF ensures the existence and future of the State of Israel."

He added: "Facing external threats, we must unite our ranks. The IDF’s strength lies in its unity, its values, its diverse composition, and the equitable sharing of the burden. Therefore, we will work to expand the integration of all populations into all IDF units. The task of defending the state must be shared equitably. Let us not forget that the Jewish people are the people of the Book, the people of the Torah, but also the people of action. I call on all parts of Israeli society to participate in the commandment of defending the homeland. This is a shared responsibility."

Zamir, who led the Defense Ministry before assuming the role of Chief of Staff, spoke about the importance of increasing the IDF’s budget: "Even today, the question persists: Will we forever live by the sword? The State of Israel faces an existential, constant, fundamental threat. Surrounded by cruel, brutal, and murderous enemies bent on our destruction, we must continue to strengthen and fortify our iron wall. To that end, we must continue to bolster the IDF. The IDF must be prepared for a range of scenarios, including the most complex—such as a multi-front war of attrition, both at the front and in depth, which we have been engaged in since October 7."

"The defense budget must grow, and the order of forces must expand rapidly and responsibly. We cannot live on the edge; we must maintain wide safety margins for the day of reckoning."

"We must not let our guard down! This applies to the soldier and the General Staff alike"The incoming Chief of Staff spoke about restoring public trust in the IDF after the October 7 failure: "The State of Israel will remain democratic and prosperous, but also a fortress state in a hostile environment. We must strive to neutralize existential and lethal threats in their infancy. We must maintain high levels of readiness and alertness at every level and at all times. We must not let our guard down! This applies to the soldier and the General Staff alike."

"I see restoring public trust in the IDF as an obligatory mission. The IDF will continue to investigate itself with courage and depth. We will learn, draw lessons, and grow. My brothers-in-arms, citizens of Israel, difficult days lie ahead, but I am confident that better days will follow. We are required to muster dedication, sacrifice, patience, perseverance, and hope. The people of Israel are strong—‘Behold, a people rises like a lioness and lifts itself like a lion.’"

In closing, he addressed the outgoing Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and his family: "I wish to thank you for decades of service to the State of Israel. Herzi, only those who have chosen a life of service and the humility tied to command and combat leadership understand the heavy responsibility upon us. We navigate a narrow ridge, with a chasm on one side and a peak on the other. A single fateful decision separates a fall into the abyss from reaching the summit. For four decades, you walked that ridge, leading operations and battles."

He continued: "Under your command, the IDF recovered from the failure and you led it to achievements in this arduous campaign. On behalf of the IDF, I thank you, the 23rd Chief of Staff, for your dedicated service and contribution to the IDF and the state’s security. To my dear family—my wife Orna and my children Uri, Roni, and Itai—I know that, as always, you stand with me with great love and steadfast support in this shared mission."

"To my dear mother, you and my late father raised me with immense love. I love you deeply. As a graduate of the military boarding school, I carry the motto I was raised on: ‘In quietness and confidence.’ Thus, we will proceed humbly, letting our actions speak. Soldiers and commanders of the IDF, I salute the flag and embark on the mission of my life—our life’s mission. ‘The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.’"