Chief of the General Staff at the “Leaders on the Home Front” Conference

The “Leaders on the Home Front” conference was held today (Tuesday) with the participation of the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz; the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir; the Commander of the Home Front Command, MG Shay Klapper; heads of local authorities, and additional participants.

During the conference, the Chief of the General Staff held a discussion with heads of local and regional authorities, senior officials from the defense establishment, and representatives of emergency and rescue organizations, emphasizing that strengthening the strategic partnership is a vital foundation for the home front’s effective coping with a future campaign.

From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir:
“This conference and the people in it reflect a mobilized nation. Over the past two years, we have seen firsthand that it is not only the strength of the military that decides outcomes, but also the strength of the entire nation. The most important and essential cornerstone is the local authority - the ability of you to function in emergency situations directly affects our ability in the IDF to function.

We are building a new strategy in the IDF, focused on war by surprise - this is our reference scenario. We have drawn lessons from October 7th - we made changes to readiness levels and orders, identified gaps, addressed them, and continue to do so - we are acting in order to move forward. We are positioned along controlling lines, holding territory, and operating offensively against every threat that emerges against us - there will be no more containment, and there will be no more terrorist and proxy organizations entrenching themselves along our borders. This is our obligation to you and to the residents of your authorities - to prevent any threat from taking shape against you.

I visited several impact sites during Operation “Rising Lion” and saw the joint response of the local authority and Home Front Command personnel. Your work on the home front allows the IDF the quiet to do what needs to be done, where it needs to be done. In the most complex hours, heads of local authorities serve as a central pillar for the public and the residents - you are an inseparable part of the effort to safeguard the security of the civilians of the State of Israel. Civilian resilience and the personal responsibility demonstrated by the public in Israel are a source of our strength, and they are what enable us to continue operating.

We will know how to prepare for and act in the face of various developments; we are preparing for surprises. Readiness for war is our compass - we are constantly working to safeguard the security of the state and its civilians.”

From the remarks of the Commander of the Home Front Command, MG Shay Klapper:
“The Israeli home front is the strongest in the world. I believe that everyone here has a role in ensuring that - and that is exactly what we are doing here.
This conference is being held in order to enhance preparedness and readiness, to consolidate all the lessons learned and implement them within the local authorities themselves. We are living in a historic period, facing challenges we have not experienced before, and you are the leaders - the home front has become a front, and this requires courageous, professional leadership. We are preparing for all scenarios.
The common foundation for all of us is partnership. The Home Front Command is on the front line, together with everyone - this is how we will be able to save lives.”