In around three weeks, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot will finish his term as the 21st commander of the Israel Defense Forces.
Military readiness for war has been an issue dear to Eizenkot's heart. But in recent months Eizenkot has been forced to confront harsh criticism and warnings from IDF Ombudsman Maj. Gen. Yitzhak Brik, who, based on visits to IDF field units, has published worrisome reports in which he concludes that the IDF Ground Forces are not prepared for a real conflict.
Although high-ranking officers in the Ground Forces refuted Brik's claims, the ombudsman continued to send reports and letters to government officials. Two weeks ago, he laid out his concerns before the Knesset State Control Committee. Eizenkot decided to appoint an investigative committee headed by IDF Comptroller Brig. Gen. Ilan Harari to examine the Ground Forces' readiness for war. The committee members included former GOC Central Command Maj. Gen. (res.) Avi Mizrahi, former GOC Southern Command Maj. Gen. (res.) Doron Almog and Professor Asher Tishler, an economic consultant who works with the IDF.
The committee presented its findings to Eizenkot on Monday. The committee evaluated six main issues: the Ground Forces' digital systems, manpower, training, capabilities in a state of emergency, logistics, and the situation of communities in the western Negev, adjacent to the Gaza Strip.
Harari said Monday that the committee had found "a large discrepancy between the IDF ombudsman's report and our own."
"The IDF is prepared for war, period," he said.
"We found that the IDF's level of preparedness has improved significantly as a result of the Gideon work plan, changes to priorities and other processes. However, we have found deficiencies. Armies have deficiencies. Some are known and some we have presented to the chief of staff."
Problems the committee identified include the mobility of the army's fleet of supply trucks, which hold military equipment; the lethality of the IDF infantry; the IDF's ability to employ precision tactical fire; the amount of reservists' training; personnel cuts and a drop in the number of career personnel, along with the quality of training in general.
The committee said the army was short thousands of trucks needed to move supplies and it would take a decade to meet the current need.
Some of the "deficiencies" identified by Harari and Mizrahi reflect what Brik reported. However, Mizrahi said Tuesday there was a "chasm" between his and Harari's findings and the ombudsman's report.
Discussing the defenses of communities near the Gaza border in a state of war – one of the many topics Brik cited – Harari admitted that the situation there is unsatisfactory and that a plan to arm the communities has not been fully implemented.
The committee also confirmed that not enough training days and ammunition were being allocated to drill reservists, although training for the regular army was deemed appropriate. The army's digital systems were found to be underutilized.
Mizrahi, a senior director at the Elbit Systems electronic defenses manufacturer, said Tuesday, "I will recommend that the prime minister, who has named five issues the IDF needs to address, add a sixth: Ground Forces preparedness."
Mizrahi said he would recommend that the government transfer funds to the IDF to bolster the Ground Forces' readiness for war.
"Things are lacking, but that doesn't mean the IDF isn't prepared for war," Mizrahi said.
