Netanyahu tells new military chief he has ‘heavy responsibility’
As we’ve been reporting, Israeli Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir begins his term as Israel’s new military chief today.
Netanyahu addressed the incoming military chief at his inauguration in Tel Aviv this morning, commending him for “the Zionism that beats within you … and the professional commitment as the link between the [military] and other security officials to the prime minister”.
“A very heavy responsibility rests on your shoulders,” Netanyahu told Zamir. “The results of the war will have significance for generations, we are determined to achieve … victory.”
New chief Zamir pledges to expand Israel’s army, return all captives
The incoming military chief, Eyal Zamir, has delivered inaugural remarks in Tel Aviv, reports The Times of Israel.
He promised to lead the military “to victory” and bring home all captives from Gaza. “Our moral duty is clear; bring everyone back home, in any way possible and as quickly as possible,” he said in comments carried by The Times of Israel.
Zamir also said all Israeli society must participate in defending the country, a remark seemingly directed at the ultra-Orthodox community, some of whom have resisted calls for mandatory conscription.
Israel’s army, he said, “is the army of the people”.
“Facing external threats, we must have cohesion of the ranks. We will work to expand the ranks. The defensive missions must be divided.”
Far-right Israeli figures congratulate new army chief Zamir
Israel’s right-wing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and former National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir have both cheered the inauguration of army chief Eyal Zamir.
“Total victory and the return of all the hostages is the goal,” said Smotrich in a post on X addressing Zamir. “From my familiarity with you, I know you understand the magnitude of the moment and the importance of the mission.”
Ben-Gvir, who quit Netanyahu’s coalition in January over opposition to the ceasefire deal, urged Zamir to bring a “fresh spirit and new forces”, promote “offensive and ethical officers”, stop “the policy of blocking” right-wing officers and shield the military from foreign influence.
“With determination, courage and decisiveness, you will be able to ensure the strength of the [military] and the security of the state of Israel,” Ben-Gvir said.
New Israeli Army chief of staff ‘wants war'
According to some analysts, Eyal Zamir is an Israeli Army chief of staff who wants war, who likes war. And, he actually has been getting praise from across the Israeli political aisle, both from Netanyahu’s right-wing government and the left wing, the opposition, within Israel.
They have all been praising the army’s chief of staff because the military is seen as something that is not really political within Israel, so it has a lot of backing from across the sects of Israeli society and also from across the Israel political aisle.
But when it comes to what he is inheriting, this is a lot for a new army chief of staff coming in. It’s worth mentioning that the former army chief of staff, Herzi Halevi, resigned because of his failures in the October 7 attacks and the security failures leading up to October 7, and many are calling on Netanyahu to resign for the same reason.
But nevertheless, there is going to be a lot on his plate, because this is a time when the ceasefire deal is very shaky, there are still supposed to be negotiations that are ongoing for phase two, and it’s worth mentioning that the army all this time has been drafting a plan for a return to war and reports in Israeli media indicate that the new chief of staff says that he’s ready to lead Israel to an “absolute victory”, a term that’s been used to Netanyahu throughout the 15 months of fighting in order to keep the war effort going.
Essay Pro