Making the most of an opportunity, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi's address this week – and the warning he sent to Iran – was a masterful delivery of a poignant strategic message.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook and Twitter
Given the global and regional geopolitical shifts in the wake of the change in the United States administration, Kochavi did not mince his words when addressing friends and foes alike.
His remarks must be interpreted in the particular circumstantial context in which they were said, according to each of the recipients –from the Israeli public, through enemy entities, to the White House.
These were not remarks made to score points for his image; rather they sought to serve Israel's strategic dogma.
For Israeli ears, the speech was a reminder of the fact that while we are dealing with our own crises – from the coronavirus pandemic to yet another election campaign, Israel faces new theats that require all of us to prepare the appropriate response.
The immediate interest that the speech sparked among the region's leaders indicates that they understood this message should not be ignored.
Unlike addressed by past chiefs of staff, which played to Israel's ethos and pathos alike, Kochavi's speech was a professional review, taking stock of one arena after the next.
Naturally, his remarks about Iran were the once to dominate the conversation on both mainstream and social media – especially his warning to the administration of US President Joe Biden against re-entering the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran and his statement that the IDF is preparing offensive contingencies to counter any nefarious intentions the Islamic republic may harbor.
Those statements, however, made certain defense officials who had backed the nuclear pact – from which former US President Donald Trump pulled in 2018 – very anxious.
Biden has made it clear that he plans to reach some sort of nuclear understandings with Tehran, and to put it plainly, the fact that Kochavi offered Biden what can only be described as a stern piece of took guts.
Israel's top general urged the Americans to study carefully the regional changes that have taken place since the 2015 deal was inked and warned of the consequence Biden failed to do so.
Even if Washington plans to hammer out an entirely new deal with Tehran, the fact that the IDF is prepared to mount an offensive strike can be used as leverage.
An equally important and equally serious warning was meant for Hezbollah and Hamas. Kochavi made it clear to the Lebanon- and Gaza-based terrorist groups – both of which enjoy massive Iranian support – that the fact they position their posts within urban centers, thus using civilians as human shields, will not prevent the IDF from striking them.
This warning was meant for specific ears, namely Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, Hamas leaders Ismail Haniyeh and Yahya Sinwar, the civilian population in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, the international community, and the Israeli public, which the chief of staff vowed to protect against enemy fire.
Each message was carefully designed, honed and delivered and they should be heeded by all.
Subscribe to Israel Hayom's daily newsletter and never miss our top stories!
