"Iran has an active weapons team," IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi reveals in a farewell interview with Israel Hayom just days before his successor Herzi Halevi takes his job at the helm of the IDF, referring to an illicit Iranian body that deals with the military dimensions of its nuclear program. "This team has been working at a very slow pace, and this is in violation of the nuclear deal," Kochavi added. 

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It has been reported that the body tasked with Iran's military nuclear program was disbanded in 2003. Iran has insisted ever since that it has never been restarted, but Kochavi now claims that "the Iranians are lying constantly." 

According to Kochavi, Iran currently has enough fissile material for four bombs – three that would have uranium enriched to only 20% purity, and the fourth would have highly enriched uranium with a purity of 60%. "Their progress today is at a very slow gradient, but the significant change is in the scope of their centrifuges – especially the advanced models." 

This new development in Iran's nuclear program has led to a shift in the Israeli approach. Under Kochavi, the IDF has devised three operational plans to attack Iran. "These extend from a retaliatory strike on Iran that would be unrelated to the nuclear issue, to the taking out of the Iranian nuclear installations and auxiliary sites in that project, and if the situation eventually escalates into a full-fledged campaign then these plans also include the targeting of military sites and other assets."

Q: You have used the term "taking out." Does Israel have the capability to fully destroy Iran's nuclear program just like it did in Iraq and Syria? 

"Let me put it in more precise words: I meant neutralizing; inflicting major damage to Iran's nuclear program." 

Q: Do you think there is any path to take other than a military one? 

"Iran is currently under five different sets of pressures, which I believe are unprecedented: economically, socially, diplomatically, military failures, and the fact that their proxies in the region have not delivered. We must use these five sets of pressure to reach a deal that could be called very good and would have no sunset. If the world ratchets up the economic sanctions on Iran, and if it simultaneously projects a credible military option that could be activated if they continue marching forward on the nuclear program, there is a chance that the pressure would be so big  that they would decide to stop the nuclear project." 

Q: How worried are you when it comes to their cooperation with Russia in the war in Ukraine? 

 "Our relations with the Russians are stable, and we have the freedom to operate across the Middle East. We have not seen indications or even a hint that this would be compromised. I assess that at this point, the ties between the Russians and the Iranians are largely tactical, to serve their respective interests, rather than a strategic, but this could eventually reach that level." 

"I don't want the IDF to be a sacred cow"

 In recent weeks, the IDF and its chief of staff are at the eye of the storm: The Coalition agreements signed by the various factions of the new government put the Civil Administration in Judea and Samaria and the Military Rabbinate under civilian responsibility that is separate from the military chain of command. This has had Kochavi, who is generally a tempered individual, engage in a forceful pushback. 

"We have to stay true to our moral compass, which comprises two very basic components. The first is the professional fundamentals: the methods, the techniques, and the rules – including the rules of engagement. The second is the norms and values we hold, the spirit of the IDF. The government must set policy, but only the IDF determines how to carry out the fighting itself, whether it is in Gaza, or the narrow alleys in Judea and Samaria; only the IDF determines what is moral and what is not; what is appropriate and what is not; and what is wrong. We will not deviate from the professional and moral principles and values." 

Q: How should the military function when the chief military rabbi is appointed by civilian rabbis and the head of the Civil Administration is appointed by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich. 

"I don't see how such a reality could exist. The supreme command orders, which have been given the status of a law and signed by the defense minister, stipulate that the IDF chief of staff appoints officers that hold the rank of colonel or higher, including major generals. This must not change, because the glue that holds the military together is this trust between the soldiers and their commanders and between the commanders and those higher up in the chain of command. A great deal of the trust stems from the fact that the decisions are made based only on professional and disinterested standards, without any foreign consideration, especially not political. An appointment not made through the chain of command would be tainted and would at once undo this premise of trust. It is like injecting poison into the tree called the IDF. Such an appointment should not be carried out, plain and simple."

Q: But if the politicians insist? 

"Our role, especially that of the chief of staff, is to stand our ground on this principle and to explain how crucial it is to the organization's integrity, as well as to show just how toxic and dangerous things could be if it lost this quality. This is is how things are run in all other militaries, and this is how it should stay."

Kochavi made his views on this matter clear while speaking with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just before the latter took office. The call was made at Kochavi's request. "I believe that disagreements, however deep, must be ironed out behind closed doors. I don't know who leaked this conversation, and it is unfortunate. The fact of the matter is that as soon as Netanyahu was declared the winner of the election, I immediately proceeded to arrange a conversation so that I could lay out my views and explain what the implications are on all the issues on the table, whether it is the Border Guard [chain of command], the appointments, or the Civil Administration so that no decision I made before we have our say and have input on the eventual outcome." 

Q: Did you notice a receptive ear on the other side? 

"I would say that there is a receptive ear and a good dialogue." 

Do you think it would be reasonable to grant total immunity from prosecution for troops for actions they have committed while on active duty? 

"Our job is to educate the soldiers on a professional and moral level. Education includes three main tools: leadership by example; giving support; and punishing. Punishment is part of the educational process, just like a parent who exercises tough love. This is also true when it comes to a commander's way of disciplining his subordinates or the chief of staff doing the same for one of his brigade commanders." 

Kochavi explains that even if the Border Guard would now be under National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, they will still be subordinate to the operational military commanders on the ground and it would be intolerable to have them get two conflicting sets of orders. "This will not stand; it will never happen, not in the guidelines and not in the actual operational conduct or the rules of engagements, and definitely not in the actual decisions on missions. Every theater has only one commander at every given moment, and all the forces report to him; he is responsible for carrying out the mission and he will have to be held accountable for its success or failure. This is the principle of having a single chain of command in militaries all over and the IDF in particular, and there is no other situation that could exist. If they insist on having some other constellation, we would just have to say we are disengaging; rather than have Border Guard units we would have to deploy conscripted troops or call up reserves."

Q: How worried are you about what seems to be an onslaught against the IDF?

"I think it would be best to look at how this fits in with the grand scheme of things. This is not new and there have been several such instances throughout our history. But generally speaking, I am not worried, because the commanders would continue to deal a great deal of influence on how the professional side of things and how the operational activity is conducted in accordance with norms, morals, and values." 

Q: You don't think the political and social fragmentation will result in commanders or their subordinate troops refusing orders? 

"Such phenomena have existed throughout our history. Didn't we have this during the 2005 Disengagement Plan's implementation? Didn't we have objectors who refused to demolish walls during urban warfare in the Palestinian cities? We had it all. This is a challenge but I believe that the structural bonds that connect the operational orders, the commitment to your commander, and the moral norms and values we have are stronger than anything else. Even if we have some problems on the fringes, they will not enter the mainstream."

Q: And you don't think the IDF is no longer the sacred cow that it used to be in Israeli society? 

"I think that the status of the IDF in Israeli society is strong and prominent, and the public's trust in the institution is very high, especially when compared to other state bodies. I don't want us to be a sacred cow. It is healthy and right to have the IDF be subject to criticism. This sharpens us and makes us constantly alert; but on the other hand, such criticism must be constructive and professional, and definitely not personal."

Despite Kochavi's optimism, the IDF has had to endure increasing attacks over the past several years. For example, it has come under fire over the pension benefits for career officers. But Kochavi's take is very different, owing to his perspective as someone who is in the system. He sees these benefits as part of the war the IDF is waging over workforce retention so that the best and brightest stay in uniform, even though this effort has had mixed results. "Those who have been targeted due to their pension are the same people who were on a sortie just last week to target some remotes site; they are those who just two months ago got an award for the smart bomb they had developed, which allowed us to kill a Hamas leader and launch an offensive. The IDF is a military that deals with many theaters all at once, and the only way to make sure its performance remains high is by attracting superb people. Superb people will join us because of the meaning the job gives them, but they also need to be properly compensated. Good compensation begins with wages, and this is especially with captains and majors, it needs to be augmented."

Q: What if the wages don't get bolstered under the new compensation model?

"That could result in a wave of departures, but this must not happen. I am not just talking about this or that battalion commander in the Golani Brigade or in the Armored Corps, I am talking also about the communications officers and intelligence officers, as well as those in the logistical apparatus. If we don't find a way to compensate them, the quality of our officers will be compromised and as a result our combat worthiness and operational qualities, and this would hurt Israel's security. There is no doubt about this. We have to properly compensate the troops; there is simply no other option."

Q: You have been attacked over the integration of women in combat units. 

"These decisions are made only on professional considerations. Women's contribution to the military has been proven to be enormous. We must not miss out on this great human potential, both because it is in line with our values and because it is good for our organization in a purely operational sense. If we didn't have all the units that are open to women right now, such as the light infantry battalions or the Iron Dome batteries and the Homefront Command, we would have had to find men to fill those positions, and this would have resulted in the disbanding two whole brigades. We need women and they are great. Moreover, any position that a woman can do should be open for women."

 Surgical strike in the bedroom

 Kochavi hands over an organization that has managed to maintain calm in all theaters except Judea and Samaria. The Lebanese theater was on an escalation trajectory, but that ended after Israel and Lebanon redrew their maritime border. Kochavi calls that deal "good" and notes that "all of Israel's security interests were addressed in this agreement. It serves both Israel and the IDF, and that's why we were behind it." 

Kochavi confirms that Hezbollah was gearing up for a flare-up in the event the talks on the deal would collapse. He added that the IDF was prepared to respond as needed. "I know the contingency plans we had for the event Hezbollah provokes an escalation. Any action on its part that would register 3 on the Richter Scale would have triggered a response that would register seven or eight. Those were the plans."

Q: How concerned are you over the ongoing situation in Judea and Samaria and the terrorism wave that has continued for almost a year now? 

"In the Palestinian theater, we first stabilized Gaza. The entire gamut of Palestinian forces would have acted differently had Gaza not been calm, and I believe that there is a good chance it would remain stable. In Judea and Samaria, the terrorism wave started with lone-wolf attackers but then some of the terrorist organizations tried to ride this wave. The good news is that most of the attacks are being thwarted. Over the past year, some 400 attacks were foiled. The flip side is that we have no way of knowing when this wave will subside. I would like to believe that our effective actions will persist and this will convince them that there is no point in continuing this wave." 

Q: What would you tell those who say you are not using enough force in Jenin and Nablus? 

"We have been engaged with a very proactive offensive posture. We don't stop the would-be attackers on the border or in Hadera, but in their own bedroom, six hours after he and his friend finalized their plans. The measure of success is not how much force you used but how much terrorism you managed to avert." 

Q: Temple Mount is not part of the IDF jurisdiction, but how worried are you over what has unfolded as of late? 

"Temple Mount has always been a flash point, and it has recently become even more so. Every event that the Palestinians interpret as an alteration of the status quo or their rights could result in riots and provocations that could eventually lead to a flare-up."

Another issue that involves personnel has to do with conscripted soldiers. Kochavi would like to dispel the myth that only rich kids serve in lucrative and easy positions whereas those from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds are used as cannon fodder in front-line positions. "Let's talk about the facts. Putting aside the Haredi and Arab populations, 85% of those eligible get drafted. Among them, the first four deciles and those with the best personal score get drafted more, go more to combat units."

Q: What about technological units? 

"In those units, there is a high representation of central Israel over remote communities. This is a fact. We set our sights on having this ratio be equally divided and we are on our way. We have been engaging 35,000 students in middle school and high school on this so that this equality in opportunity becomes possible. We have several programs, including one aimed at encouraging girls. We have honed the screening and placement process to a very high level. This is a major change. We first look at ourselves and then we also look at the education system that needs to work to right this wrong." 

Q: When you hear a politician say that half of the public must be subject to the draft, while the rest should engage in Torah study, what do you say? 

"Generally speaking, everyone should share the burden. But let me correct myself, it's not a burden. It should be described as equality in serving the country. There are two tracks. One is the IDF, and we would gladly accept anyone who wants to join, including the Haredim and the Arabs. The other track is a form of national service. I think that any other track runs against our values." 

Q: Torah study lacks values? 

"It's not that. The fact that not partaking in the service of your country [when you study Torah] is against our values."  

 On to the next job

Kochavi gave this interview just days before he was to end his military career and start his discharge process. "This is both happy and sad: It's like having to carry out an order to part ways with someone whom you really like. This is one heck of a farewell," Kochavi said, adding that the most moving sendoff was at the Paratroopers Brigade. "They found the original car that I had used as battalion commander and then brought it to the event with my then-driver. And then I entered the tent with all the company commanders and NCOs from that time, as well as all the administrative staff. The end was when the host of the event, who is the current battalion commander, said, 'Chief of staff, we are bidding you farewell, we are all putting our berets now.' Some 400 paratroopers stood there with the berets on their heads and saluted me. That did it for me and I was overcome with emotion." 

Q: Your close associates know that you express your emotions.

 "I love the IDF so much and I identify with it so much, with what we do, we the quality of people. I don't know what I will do in the future, but I know that I will never lead another organization that is as special." 

Q: What was the role of your life? 

"That would be serving as IDF chief of staff of course.  But the next one on the list would be serving as the 35th Brigade Commander during Operation Defensive Shield and head of the IDF Intelligence Directorate when the Middle East underwent so much turbulence. These are the big three." 

Q: Does a chief of staff have free time? 

"Not really. Normally speaking you work six days a week, but in the vast majority of cases you wake up on Saturdays, get your coffee and then work until 10 p.m. This is if I am at home. There are some Saturdays where that is not the case." 

Q: Can you get a full night's sleep? 

"Yes, there are quite a few nights like that, but there are many others that are truncated because you go to bed late or wake up early because people call or text you." 

Q: What call is still etched in your memory? 

"The worst call I got was when my bureau chief called me with the news that two company commanders in the elite Egoz unit were killed by friendly fire. I think this was the most difficult call I got throughout my service in the military."

Q: Really? 

"Yes. It's different when this happens in battle. This event was so pointless. It should not have happened."

What other moment from the past forty years are you going to remember? 

"The battle in the Balata Refugee Camp during Operation Defensive Shield. For the first time, the IDF made an urban capture in Area A, under the Palestinians' control. Up until then, these areas have been considered off-limits, like a dark forest you could not emerge from. But for the first time in years, a brigade-level battle took place, and for the first time, we used the method of entering through walls. I think this battle gave the IDF top brass the confidence that 'Yes, we can' [fight against terrorists]."

With perfect timing, Kochavi's wife also retired just recently, after working for decades for the State Attorney's Office. He says that he already knows what he will do on his first day out of uniform.

"I will go to the beach, with my wife. Tranquility."

Q: What are you going to do next? At your age, you are not going to just sit and count sheep.

"You might see me in the innovation and technology world, and in an educational setting. I would like to do many things that have a social value in them." 

Q: Many want to know if Aviv Kochavi is going to enter politics. 

"My response is that it is not on the table at this point. When the time comes to decide, I will think hard."  

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The IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, who is nearing the end of his term, got a special honor on Monday during his visit to the US when his counterpart awarded him the Legion of Merit. 

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Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley cited Kochavi's "deepening the strategic partnership between Israel and the US" during an honor guard ceremony at Fort Myer, near the Arlington National Cemetary in Virginia. 

"Kochavi exemplified the spirit of collaboration and cooperation in furthering the strategic partnership of the United States and the State of Israel," read the text of the award. "Kohavi solidified Israel's status as a capable and effective regional security leader in the Middle East. Kohavi clearly established and shared Israel's strategic defense objectives, in close alignment with US national interests and strategic objectives. Kochavi's superior efforts, outstanding leadership, and personal initiative reflect great credit upon himself, the Israel Defense Forces, and his country," it continued.

Video: IDF Spokesperson Unit / Aviv Kochavi at the Fort Myer base

The award, which is the sixth-highest in the US, can be awarded to those who have "distinguished themselves by exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services." Some of Kochavi's predecessors have also been awarded the same citation. 

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Israel will not hesitate to launch another campaign in Gaza if tensions on the border continue to escalate, Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said Monday.

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"As soon as Operation Guardian of the Walls ended, the IDF began to prepare for another campaign," he said. "We have improved and continue to improve our warfare capabilities as well as operational plans in the Strip. Unless calm is maintained in the south – we will not hesitate to launch another campaign."

The Israel-Gaza border has seen weeks of unrest, with Palestinian protesters burning tires and throwing explosives at IDF troops. On Aug. 21, one Palestinian terrorist fatally shot Israeli Border Police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli. After fighting for his life at Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba for several days, Shmueli succumbed to his wounds on Monday afternoon.

Defense Minister Benny Gantz also said the possibility of another war with Hamas was on the table.

"Our attacks in Gaza are focused in a way that they target Hamas, depriving it of its capabilities. I cannot guarantee that Operation Guardian of the Walls will not resume," he told reporters.

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In the coming days, two new generals will be appointed to the Israel Defense Forces. Defense Minister Benny Gantz has yet to issue his approval, but it's unlikely there will be any surprises. Brig. Gen. Eran Niv will be promoted to the rank of general and made head of the IDF's Computer Service Directorate and Brig. Gen. Michel Janko will also be promoted and made the head of the military's Technological and Logistical Directorate, following the appointment this week of Brig. Gen. Avi Gil to the role of military secretary at the Prime Minister's Office and his promotion to the rank of major-general.

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Niv is set to replace Maj. Gen. Lior Carmeli and Janko will replace Maj. Gen. Itzik Turgeman upon their retirement from military service. Their retirements are a colossal waste of excellent officers, organizational knowledge, and money. Both Turgeman and Carmeli would have been happy to stay on had they been given another role, but IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi chose to show them the door.

The reasons behind a chief of staff's appointments are never provided. The military is a hierarchical organization in which the commander calls the shots. End of story. Below the rank of major-general, candidates are evaluated and discussed, resulting in a unified ruling. Generals are appointed in consultations between the chief of staff and defense minister: The chief of staff makes a recommendation, and the minister authorizes the appointment.

These appointments have always sparked controversy and intrigue. Many chiefs of staff have been accused of factionalism and favoritism. It's doubtful, however, there has ever been as much internal criticism in past decades as there is toward Kochavi, his close associates, and the appointments he is making right now.

The appointment that got the most attention was that of IDF Spokesman Hidai Zilberman, who after a year and nine months in the role was appointed military attaché to Washington and promoted to major-general. I won't get into his role as IDF spokesman. The relationship between reporters and spokespeople should not be discussed in a newspaper's pages and are subjective at any rate.

Zilberman's qualifications for the new role are another matter. He has no unique intelligence, diplomatic, or command experience that justifies his new celebrity status. Up until now, division commanders, or their air force counterparts, were always the ones selected for Washington. Many attaches were already major-generals when they crossed the Atlantic Ocean – to bestow upon the position the seniority it deserves but also because this role is seen as a serious bonus for those who have genuinely earned it through many years of arduous service.

Zilberman has been close to Kochavi ever since he was his staff division officer at the Northern Command. He served in both of his last two positions - – a full term as head of the Planning Division's Planning Directorate and one year and eight months as IDF spokesman - at Defense Ministry headquarters in Tel Aviv. By contrast, there are quite a few brigadier-generals who have served far longer and demanding terms and are still waiting for a promotion. Officers who longed for the Washington role were rejected outright.

The head of the IDF's Northern Command, Amir Baram, spent most of his military service in the trenches and sought a reprieve from the stress. He asked to be made head of the Intelligence or Operations Division but was refused on both points. In response, Baram declined Kochavi's request he be appointed commander of the Ground Forces, opting to remain in the Northern Command.

The failure to appoint Baram to head of the Operations Division demands clarification. According to the new structure of the IDF, set out by former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot, the head of the Operations Division is third in IDF hierarchy, behind the IDF chief of staff and deputy chief of staff.

The idea has always been that an experienced major-general familiar with the work of the general staff and seen as an authority among the generals should head the Operations Division.

Kochavi promoted Brig. Gen. Oded Basiuk to head of the Operations Division. While Basiuk's command skills are undisputed, a senior official he is not. Prior to his appointment, Basiuk was head of the Planning Division, and before that he served as a division commander. None of the major-generals who tried to find out why Kochavi chose not to appoint an experienced major-general to Operations Divison commander received a satisfactory response.

In closed talks, Kochavi has said he has made his decisions based on purely professional considerations and that he is only doing what is good for the IDF. While he likely believes this with all his heart, it is unclear whether he is aware of the extent of the criticism of him and the chiefs of staff in general. Many major-generals are no longer trying to hide their criticism of their commander: Kochavi, they claim, does not listen to advice and has made mind up on many of these decisions in advance.

A decision on yet another appointment – that of the Defense Ministry's Budget Department head, who will also serve as financial adviser to the IDF chief of staff - is set to be reached in the coming days. While of less interest to the public, this position is of great importance to the defense establishment.

The current financial adviser, Brig. Gen. Ariela Lazarovich, made clear her intentions to retire from the IDF a year ago. At her superiors' request, she agreed to stay on but will officially conclude her role later this summer.

Absolutely nothing about Lazarovich's departure was a surprise. After all, she announced her plans to retire in advance, and there has been ample time to find and train a replacement. Yet the IDF did nothing until the last minute. Instead of there being an organized process to look for a fitting replacement, those tasked with finding a new adviser chose to wait, apparently, until the individual they wanted for the job became available.

If the rumors are true, Kochavi's candidate for the role is Col. Gil Pinchas, who currently heads the IDF's Planning Department. There is some dispute as to whether Pinchas is a good fit for the role. There is no dispute, however, as to whether this is how appointments should be made, in particular in the absence of a state budget. Add to that the IDF's adoption of a multi-year plan that was never authorized or budgeted, new, long-term agreements that must be reached with the Finance Ministry, and major budget cuts that are likely in the works.

Kochavi has a hard time living with criticism. He probably won't even like what is written here. He will likely think this is just a personal attack, though this is simply not the case. After all, on the eve of his appointment as IDF chief of staff, I wrote that if all the candidates' data had been entered into a computer software program, it would have selected Kochavi for the role. That doesn't, however, mean that Kochavi, his decisions, or his appointments should be immune to criticism. The opposite is true.

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Defense Minister Benny Gantz will arrive in Washington on Thursday to ask for $1 billion in defense aid, US Senator Lindsey Graham told Fox and Friends on Tuesday.

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Gantz will meet with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin and national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

According to Fox News, Israeli officials said the purpose of the aid money was to replenish Iron Dome batteries and procure munitions for the air force – specifically laser-guided bombs.

While in Washington, Gantz will also discuss the Iran nuclear deal, the Gaza ceasefire and reconstruction efforts, and the situation in Lebanon.

"There is going to be a request made by the Israelis to the Pentagon on Thursday for $1 billion in aid to replenish Iron Dome batteries. It will be a good investment for the American people. I will make sure in the Senate that they get the money," Graham told Fox a day after meeting Netanyahu and Gantz in Israel.

On Monday, meanwhile, Gantz distanced himself from comments made by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi about bombing a high-rise building in Gaza during Operation Guardian of the Walls that had housed an Associated Press office and other news outlets, along with a Hamas "electronic warfare" center, saying the remarks were not meant to be taken literally.

In an article published on the website of Channel 12 News over the weekend, Kochavi was quoted as saying that "the building was destroyed justly" and he did not have a "gram of regret."

The article claimed that the Hamas terrorist group used various floors of the Jalaa Tower for "significant electronic warfare" meant to disrupt Israeli air force GPS communications.

The article then said Kochavi had told "a foreign source" that AP journalists drank coffee each morning in a cafeteria in the building's entrance with Hamas electronics experts, whether they knew it or not.

The AP called the comments "patently false," noting that "there was not even a cafeteria in the building."

Asked about Kochavi's comments, Gantz told foreign journalists that the military chief was only speaking in figurative terms.

"When the chief of staff talked about it, he was trying to portray the atmosphere, not the actual aspects," Gantz said.

Gantz again alleged that "there was Hamas infrastructure in offices that operated from this building."

Asked to respond to Gantz's comments, the IDF spokesman's office also said Kochavi's statements were meant to be figurative.

"It was never claimed that AP journalists were knowingly interacting with Hamas personnel. On the contrary, due to the nature of Hamas' activities, AP journalists had no means of knowing that Hamas personnel were in the building," it said.

"The chief of the general staff explained the possible circumstances of such an encounter where the terrorist organization Hamas embeds itself within the civilian population and uses civilian buildings for military purposes," it said.

The IDF gave occupants of the building one hour to evacuate before the May 15 airstrike. No one was injured, but the high-rise was flattened.

Gantz said Israel has shared its intelligence with the US government. But he indicated that Israel has no intention of making the information public, saying it did not want to divulge its sources.

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In the wake of the ongoing disturbances by Palestinian rioters in Jerusalem and the increased tension with Hamas, the Israel Defense Forces will increase its troop presence in Judea and Samaria.

Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said the buildup will comprise three battalions, on top of the four that had already been sent in recent days to the area, which has seen an uptick in violence as of late, including in the form of a deadly drive-by shooting and a failed attempt to kill soldiers in a checkpoint.

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The decision to bolster the troops in the area was made by Kochavi following a meeting with senior commanders at the checkpoint where three terrorists tried to kill the Border Guard troops on Friday. The incident ended with two terrorists dead and the third wounded.

"Thanks to our fighters here, and particularly thanks to the Border Guard fighters, an attack was prevented; thanks to their hand being on the trigger, they thwarted a terrorist plot that could have influenced the entire nation, and I want to express my appreciation to the fighters and commanders who have trained the soldiers for such scenarios," Kochavi said during his visit to the site, where he was briefed on the incident by senior commanders.

IDF officials are bracing for increased unrest this week as Eid al-Fitr, the three-day holiday marking the end of Ramadan, coincides with Jerusalem day. On top of that, the Jerusalem neighborhood of Sheikh Jarrah has become a new flashpoint following a court decision that requires Arab residents to vacate homes owned by Jews.

This case has resulted in repeated confrontations with police over the weekend, including on Temple Mount, and at one point Israeli authorities had busses of Muslim worshippers stopped before they could reach Jerusalem because of intelligence suggesting they were going to engage in more disturbances.

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An IDF soldier was attacked and his weapon was stolen by two suspects late Wednesday night during a solo navigation exercise near Shfar'am in northern Israel.

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At approximately 3 a.m. Thursday morning, the soldier noticed a suspicious vehicle with two figures in it. The vehicle approached from behind him, following as he walked along a dirt path.

Coming to a halt near the soldier, the driver asked if he needed a ride, but the soldier continued moving, after which the suspects approached him from behind on foot.

Catching up to him, the two suspects tried to seize his weapon. The soldier attempted to fend them off for five minutes. During the fight, the soldier threw his magazine into the bushes at the side of the road.

After finally managing to steal his weapon, the suspects fled the scene with their vehicle. The soldier, who was lightly wounded in the scuffle, called his commanders, who came to his aid, notified the police and began searching the area.

The Military Police, Israel Police, Shin Bet security agency and the soldier's immediate commanders were investigating the incident.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi on Thursday said the incident crossed a red line.

"Torat Halehima" (Military Tactics), a religious pro-IDF organization, said: "A commando soldier was performing a solo navigation and his weapon was stolen from him. He had no ability to respond. It seems our soldiers are really left on their own, handcuffed in the face of weapons thieves … The issue isn't specific, it is systematic and deep-rooted. Soldiers must be allowed to defend themselves, under the protection of orders. Otherwise, they will not be able to protect the people of Israel."

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Hamas has replenished its arsenal since Operation Protective Edge of 2014 and now has a vast collection of rockets, guided missiles and drones, a senior IDF commander said Thursday.

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According to Israeli military estimates, Hamas has some 7,000 rockets, as well as 300 anti-tank and 100 anti-aircraft missiles.

It also has acquired dozens of unmanned aerial vehicles and has an army of some 30,000 militants, including 400 naval commandos who have received sophisticated training and equipment to carry out seaborne operations, the commander added.

The smaller Palestinian Islamic Jihad group, which often acts independently of Hamas, boasts a similar arsenal that includes 6,000 rockets, dozens of drones and anti-tank and anti-aircraft missiles, and some 400 naval forces.

During Operation Protective Edge, Hamas also made use of attack tunnels beneath the Gaza border. Israel has discovered and destroyed around 20 tunnels since hostilities ended, including a large one last October that was still under construction.

The commander said an underground barrier equipped with sensors to detect tunnels is 99% complete and will cover the entire 37-mile frontier.

Hamas seized control of Gaza from rival Palestinian forces in 2007. Since then, it has fought three wars with Israel.

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IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said Thursday that 2020 saw a decrease in the number of Israeli casualties in conflicts and war, a substantial decrease in the number of rockets fired at Israel, and many successful missions carried out by the IDF in the Middle East and beyond.

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"This year, we upheld the IDF's most important mission – to provide protection and security," said Kochavi. "We prevented all attempts of infiltration into Israel and saw a substantial decrease in casualties and rocket attacks on Israel."

According to military statistics, 174 rockets, missiles, and mortar shells were fired at Israel this year, compared to the 1,296 rockets fired in 2019 and 1,164 in 2018.

Two Israelis were killed in terrorist attacks this year, Staff Sgt. Amit Ben Yigal and the Rabbi Shai Ohayon. There were two military and seven civilian casualties the year before, and two military and nine civilian casualties in 2018.

Kochavi stressed that the IDF's operational activities weakened Iran's ability to establish a foothold in Syria, saying that "the Middle East is the most factious, divided, and violent region in the world."

"We have attacked 500 Iranian targets and carried out multiple clandestine operations on all six fronts," Kochavi said. He referenced the fact that the past year has seen an increase in the pace and quality of "the campaign between wars" that involves a series of covert operations conducted by the IDF to keep the next war at bay by preventing Israel's enemies from developing capabilities that will enable them to violate its deterrence.

According to information in Israel, there has been a significant decrease in the number of Iranian operatives in Syria, as Iranian bases, camps, and military headquarters were moved from the Damascus area to northern and eastern Syria. The weapons transfer between Iran and Syria has also reduced significantly in recent months.

"We see a clear slowdown in Iran's efforts to establish a presence in Syria as a result of IDF activity. But we still have a long way to go to achieve our goal," Kochavi added, noting that this year the IDF carried out an especially large number of its operations through cyberwarfare.

Kochavi also noted that the Abraham Accords and normalization deals "have a positive impact on the security aspect in the Middle East."

Meanwhile, the IDF has formulated its "definition of victory" at the demand of the chief of staff and has instructed its arms and flanks to formulate within the next six months how each unit can operate based on it.

Additionally, top IDF officials are set to meet in January to discuss the implementation of its multiyear work plan, "Momentum" detailing options for further streamlining efforts and plans relating to 2021 specifically.

The IDF noted that its plan has gaps due to the fact that the government has not yet approved a state budget, thus setting back procurement plans, work on the Israel-Lebanon border fence, as deploying Iron Dome air defense systems nationwide.

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A military exercise began Sunday to improve the Southern Command's operational and war readiness in case of another conflict with Gaza, the IDF said in a statement. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi is overseeing the drill with IDF Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir supervising the maneuvers on the ground.

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The drill, a routine exercise that is part of the IDF's annual training program, aims to examine the Gaza Division's ability to deal with various scenarios while maintaining multi-organizational cooperation with other IDF units.

The Israel Police said that as part of the drill, increased movement by security forces and vehicles will be seen in the area.

The military stressed that the drill follows the Health Ministry's directives for preventing the spread of the coronavirus to maintain the participants' health.

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