Israel Defense Forces ✔

The establishment of the union and the shaping of its identity did not stem solely from addressing the day-to-day needs of society and its institutions, but from a broad national and social vision. The people behind its establishment saw themselves as carrying a historic mission on their shoulders. For more than a thousand days, the State of Israel has been engaged in a prolonged, unprecedented, and multi-front campaign for our existence and our homeland. Throughout the war, we have severely damaged the capabilities of all our enemies—each individually and all of them together. In this decisive campaign, which began with the failure of October 7th, we have removed real existential threats that had been built up against us for years. We have proven that the IDF’s long arm is powerful, determined, and capable of reaching anywhere to strike those who seek to harm us. We have fundamentally changed our security doctrine—there is no ignoring and no containment; there is the removal of threats before they materialize. We are engaged in a continuous process of learning, drawing lessons and implementing them. We must expand the IDF, broaden the pool of those serving, and equip it with the necessary manpower and advanced capabilities to meet its expanding missions. At the same time, our highest obligation is to care for those who serve in the IDF—mandatory service personnel, career service personnel, reservists, and IDF employees—who are the foundation of our strength and the secret to our power. This is a generation of courageous and fearless troops whose achievements will be recorded in the annals of Jewish history; a generation embodied by MAJ Shilo Har-Even, a company commander in the Golani Brigade, who fell in battle at the Nahal Oz outpost. Even after being wounded, he continued fighting alongside his soldiers—until he was killed. The IDF is the people’s army, and those in the civil service are servants of the people. In my view, this is the profound meaning of the partnership between us. ‘Bring joy to Your land and gladness to Your city,’ as written in the Rosh Hashanah prayer. Distinguished guests, these ancient words serve as a moral and operational compass for us. The joy of our land and the gladness of our city are not to be taken for granted—they are earned every day through courage, determination, and endless dedication.” Attached are the following: Video from the remarks of the IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir: https://bit.ly/3UvJVHn Photos from the event: https://IDFANC.activetrail.biz/ANC6743671