Kochavi will damage the ground forces: Israeli officer

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
8 Jan 14:42
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An Israeli military official criticizes the outgoing Israeli occupation Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, and says that "his plan will lead to severe damage to the ground forces, the number of forces, and the army reserves."

Occupation army Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi. (AP)

Israeli website Kiba stated that a senior military official criticized the outgoing occupation forces Chief of Staff, Aviv Kochavi, and his plan to transform the Israeli occupation forces into a "deadly, effective and innovative army," noting that the latter would lead to "severe damage to the ground forces, number of forces, and the army reserves."

The military official noted that the occupation forces currently have the minimum number of forces while facing more "complex threats," adding that "Israel" may face a heavy battle accompanied by internal challenges that may make every fighter suffer due to prevailing weaknesses.

The officer criticized the outgoing Israeli Chief of Staff for an attack carried out by the Air Force in Syria, adding, "Doesn't the enemy know we attacked the eighth truck? They (IOF) decided to maintain ambiguity regarding the important attacks in Syria. We are heroes there, but in Lebanon, they quietly manufacture and build precision missiles and long-range missiles and we fail to respond."

He highlighted that Hezbollah's possession of accurate missiles will force a different outcome during the war, stressing "the importance of having additional reserve forces, as it is an illusion to believe that the war will end in a quick victory."

The officer was also concerned with the future and the coherence of the shrinking reserve system, pointing to "the demobilization of tens of thousands of reservists, the reduction of brigades, gaps in the efficiency of emergency stores, and problems with storing spare parts." He further criticized that the military officials "transferred the entire budget to fund advanced technologies instead of keeping dozens of tanks and rehabilitating them."

Israeli media had previously reported on the high rate of "short service of young officers and soldiers," noting that this matter constitutes "a strategic threat to the Israeli army that is hardly discussed."

The officer added that the Israeli occupation forces has become hi-tech, criticizing the essence of the IOF's five-year plan Tnufa 2014, which was prepared by Chief of Staff Kochavi.

He also pointed out that "all of this is at the expense of the ground army, which will ultimately be defined on the battlefield."

Israeli forces is not ready for war

Following the officer's statements, IOF Reserve Major General and former Soldiers' Ombudsman, Isaac Brick, admitted that for years, and especially in the recent period, the army spokesperson was blurring lines.

He said that after speaking with senior officers in service, division commanders, and colonels, he was confident enough to say that situation is tragic and the army is not ready for war. "The emergency stores are not ready, the exercises have been stopped, and the battalions have not been training for years. There is a lack of training and education on weapons."

He added, "Technology alone is not enough to win wars, but an imaginary reality was created by the supreme command and the army's spokesperson."

Brick pointed out that "in recent years, soldiers have begun to lose motivation and fighting spirit, while many of them are not ready to go to combat service because the army is not ready for war."

He recalled that "a survey was conducted regarding the extent of opposition in the (occupation) army", which showed that the reserve army "has lost confidence in the supreme command", adding that "Kochavi handed Herzi Halevy an army that suffers from terrible problems," warning that if Halevy does not improve the situation, the occupation will face a deep gap.