The "Gazit" Institute Winter Conference

On Sunday, December 4, 2022, the "Gazit" Institute Winter conference took place with the attendance of the IDF Chief of the General Staff LTG Aviv Kohavi. Alongside LTG Kohavi were Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amikam Norkin, the current Commanding Officer of Unit 8200, BG Y., the unit’s previous Commanding Officer, BG (res.) Nadav Zafarir, the head of the Intelligence Research Division, BG Amit Saar,  the head of the National Security Council Dr. Eyal Hulata and the head of the National Security Council and the CEO of RAFAEL Industries, Yoav Har-Even. 

BG Saar addressed the crowd on the topic of Iran and in which they feel threatened by Israel. "Iran enters 2023 with a negative angle of the quadrilateral challenge, internally, internationally, regionally and vis-à-vis Israel. It is in the most advanced state in terms of nuclear power, and enrichment to 90% is a matter of the regime's decision. The Iranian regime has lost the fourth generation of the revolution, even if it survives these protests it has a deep problem. He continued on by saying that Iran sees Israel as the main threat to its security, and is trying to develop tools in order to wage a symmetrical war against us."

BG Saar then went on to talk about the new generation of hopeless Palestinians in Judea and Samaria who do not trust the Palestinian Authority or the institutionalized Palestinian organizations, and therefore they have established new terrorist organizations such as the Lions' Den.

Later on, LTG Kohavi praised the IDF by saying that due to our planning and preparation in regard to security events. He said that due to the IDF’s ability to respond in real-time and evolve, our civilians are experiencing more quiet in relation to previous years. "Despite the single rocket that was launched toward Israel on Saturday night, if the quiet continues until May of 2023, we will have achieved two of the quietest  years in Gaza.” LTG Kohavi’s comments on Saturday night’s rocket refers to the single rocket fired from Gaza toward Israeli terroritory on Saturday night. The IDF responded by striking a main rocket manufacturing site belonging to the Hamas terrorist organization and a Hamas terrorist tunnel in southern Gaza. In Addition, the IDF also struck a military post in response to fire toward IDF fighter jets from Gaza.

"Yesterday, we attacked a very significant target, a very important asset of Hamas. Hamas did not fight back following our response to the rocket.” He continued his speech by exemplifying the fact that Operations Black Belt, Guardian of the Walls and Breaking Dawn were three instances where our strategy of responding after terrorist attacks proves that Hamas has significantly lowered the rate at which it actively launches attacks against Israel. LTG Kohavi said that during Breaking Dawn “one of the main reasons why the PIJ wanted to stop after 55 hours is thanks to our intelligence and technology.” 

LTG Kohavi continued by saying "There is a lot of complexity in the strategic world, technology is changing at a very fast pace, and the relationship between intelligence, strategy and technology is essential today. Strategy is determining the interests of the state and determining the means to realize it, strategy is the ability to adapt. In the modern world, one has to fight differently and achieve an operational accomplishment in a different way in order to realize the strategy and to avoid casualties on both sides as much as possible. In a world where we are required to achieve a higher accomplishment at a lower price and in a shorter time - the triangle of intelligence, technology and strategy comes into play."

Another speaker at the conference was the Commanding Officer of the Intelligence Directorate (J2), MG Aharon Haliva, who said "The level of security that exists here is not self-evident. The level of deterrence of the State of Israel and its security establishment is enormous - this does not guarantee that we will not reach an escalation, but indicates that the State of Israel is a regional power. There are risks and there are quite a few opportunities and it obligates us with a great responsibility to preserve it. The State of Israel is seen as powerful in its intelligence, military, economic and technological aspects."