In resolute speech on Mideast threats, Maj. Gen. Aviv Kochavi implied Israel attacks Iranian weapon convoys smuggled through Iraq. He also warned of a conflict up north Israeli Army Chief
Over the years, the annual lecture at the conference in memory of the late Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Amnon Lipkin-Shahak has become a kind of initiation ceremony for new IDF chiefs. Aviv Kochavi delivered it on Wednesday at nearly the end of his first year as chief of staff.
In a long, comprehensive and eloquent address at the Herzliya Interdisciplinary Center, Kochavi presented a thorough analysis of the regional situation. The bottom line – was it ever any different? – is not optimistic: Kochavi identifies more threatening activities against Israel, more hostile organizations, more missiles and rockets and improvements in the level of precision of the missiles in enemy hands.
Like his predecessor Gadi Eisenkot, Kochavi reiterates that none of Israel’s enemies want to start a war with it. But even more than Eisenkot in the latter’s speech in this same place last year, Kochavi sounds almost fatalistic in his assessment that military friction between Israel and Iran is expected to increase over the next year and could, under extreme circumstances, even deteriorate into war.Israeli Army Chief
Here are some of Kochavi’s key points in his hour-long lecture:
* The Middle East: Kochavi stressed the connection between the various arenas – Iran, Syria, Lebanon and the Palestinians in the territories – and the possibility that a flare-up in one area will affect the others. He sees Iran and its proxies as the main threat against Israel. To Kochavi, the Gaza Strip is a secondary arena, in which attainment of long-term calm will help the army focus on the conflict with Iran.
Iran Briefing | News Press Focus on Human Rights Violation by IRGC, Iran Human Rights