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Email: [email protected] War of Iron Swords Col. Nochi Mendel [צילום: דו”צ]
Chief of Staff Hertzi Halevi decided to reprimand three senior officers, and remove two additional officers from the Nahal Brigade following the findings of the investigation into the WCK incident, in which humanitarian aid workers were killed. Hurts enterprising commanders The chairman of religious Zionism, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, attacks the Chief of Staff’s decision to turn Col. Nochi Mandel into a scapegoat, as he put it. Following the findings of the investigation of the WCK incident: Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi decided to reprimand the commander of Division 162, Itzik Cohen, and the commander of the Nahal Brigade, Yair Zuckerman. In addition, the Chief of Staff of the Nahal Brigade, Col. Nochi Mandel, and the commander of its brigade assistance will be dismissed.
“The fact that of all the failures on October 7, the first and only officer who becomes a scapegoat and is dismissed in a phone call is Nochi Mandel, a lieutenant in the Nahal Brigade, is outrageous and sends a problematic message to commanders and fighters,” said Minister Smotrich.
Smotrich did not refer to the kippah on Mandel’s head, but his statement comes in the background of a growing feeling of blocking the promotion of kippah wearers in the army, and preventing them from reaching senior command ranks that would allow their integration into the General Staff.
“It is unacceptable that the Chief of Staff beheads sharp and aggressive officers,” said Smotrich and added: “If it is necessary to punish and denounce these commanders, they should be officers who caught our guard and led us to the terrible disaster. The army needs proactive and offensive commanders who want to defeat the enemy. Senior commanders who did not strive to defeat the enemy on the battlefield and still prefer techniques and methods that failed, we have enough.” According to him, the Chief of Staff’s decision does not contribute to the public’s trust in the senior command.
Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, chairman of Otzma Yehudit, said: “The Chief of Staff’s decision to remove senior officers is the abandonment of the fighters in the middle of a war and a grave mistake that conveys weakness. Even if there are mistakes in identification, in war soldiers are backed up and certainly not tried in a field court.”
After an investigation of the incident in which the aid workers were killedHumanitarian, it was decided to change the instructions for the activation of fire support from the air and by the artillery, to be carried out only with the approval of the general.
Date: 04/05/2024 | Updated: 04/05/2024 Idan Yosef
The route the WCK vehicles took before they were shot. The incident could have been prevented [צילום: דובר צה”ל]
The WCK organization responds to the IDF’s investigation into the killing of the aid workers in a statement it published: “The IDF acknowledged its fatal mistakes and took disciplinary measures against the commanders – these are important steps. However, we demand the establishment of an independent committee to investigate the killing of our workers. The IDF cannot reliably investigate its failure in Gaza.’ The organization added that it continues to disable its activities in the Gaza Strip and there is no change in this decision.
A fall was detected in Moshav Manot in the Western Galilee – damage was caused to several B&Bs, so far no casualties have been reported. At the moment, the IDF is checking whether it was a drone or a rocket or shrapnel.
Following the launches last night (4.4.24) towards Ashkelon, Kfar Gaza and Sderot, the 215th fire brigade attacked the launch areas in the north of the Gaza Strip. Fighter planes attacked a number of targets in the launch areas, including launch pits, assembly points and a tunnel shaft. In the last day, the Air Force attacked 30 targets throughout the Gaza Strip, including military buildings, tunnel shafts, government buildings, a military depot and other military infrastructure.
Iran has threatened severe retaliation, and the embassies abroad may be a preferred target – both because their protection is naturally less than what Israel can provide to the country’s territory, and because the officials were killed in a building that the Iranians claim was part of the embassy in Damascus.
The embassies were already on high alert due to the war, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs evacuated seven of them (Egypt, Jordan, Bahrain, Morocco, Ankara, Istanbul and Turkmenistan). Following the assassination, a high alert was declared in all embassies in the world.
+ Go to the elections as soon as possible 06:26 04/05/24 | Itamar Levin for the full list
Precisely because we are at war, it is necessary to change the government as quickly as possible ▪ Also: two economic events, two chatty ministers and fear of another disaster in Miron
“One of the points of contention with the enemy” [צילום: AP]
A few hours after Biden’s firm demand: it was decided to deliver aid through the Ashdod port and the Erez crossing; Netanyahu, Galant and Gantz were authorized to take immediate measures ▪ In the background: also the High Court’s order for specific answers within a week
“Prevent a humanitarian crisis” [צילום: AP]
Smotrich: The Chief of Staff made Col. Nochi Mandel a scapegoat
Last week, Susan DeWitt, an 89-year-old Holocaust survivor, spoke before the Berkeley City Council in California and asked to declare a Holocaust Remembrance Day. After mentioning the surge in anti-Semitism and the October 7 massacre and rape, her words were interrupted by protesters. Another participant said that her seven-year-old Jewish son heard kids at school saying “Jews are stupid.” She was interrupted by the words “Stupid grades”. Another protester shouted: “Cowards, go chase the money, money suckers” and “You are betraying the country, you are spies for Israel.”
Precisely because we are at war, it is necessary to replace the government as quickly as possible and also: two economic events, two chatty ministers and fear of another disaster in Miron, the political-security cabinet decided (4-5.4.24) that aid Humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip will be transported through the Ashdod port and the Erez crossing. The cabinet authorized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Yoav Galant, and Minister Benny Gantz to take immediate steps to increase humanitarian aid to the civilian population in the Gaza Strip.
Against the backdrop of preparations for possible Iranian revenge for the death of a senior Revolutionary Guards officer in Damascus, several Israeli missions abroad, embassies and consulates, were evacuated (Thursday, 4.4.24) after an assessment of the situation by the Shin Bet and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Some of the Israeli representatives were moved to alternative locations and asked not to attend public events at this stage.
Against the background of heavy American criticism and anger towards Israel, especially after the killing of the aid workers in Gaza, the Prime Minister spoke with him on the phone at the request of the Americans, the conversation was charged, when President Biden sharply criticized the Israeli conduct
Itamar Levin Idan Yosef Merav Arad