IDF chief says soldiers must be priority after government advances law declaring Torah study a foundational value of Israel

After the government yesterday advanced a highly controversial Basic Law declaring Torah study a foundational value of the State of Israel, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir says that soldiers should be the ones to be prioritized.

“The soldiers and commanders in mandatory service, career service, and the reserves are the State of Israel’s most important resource,” Zamir says during an assessment this morning.

“It is fitting and right that they be first in the order of priorities to receive the state’s appreciation through its decisions and resources, while ensuring care for them, their families, and their future,” he says.

Also at the assessment, on the 1,000th day of the multi-front war, Zamir says Iran remains the military’s “central focus.”

“We mark today 1,000 days since the outbreak of the longest war in our history,” he says, in remarks provided by the military.

“Iran continues to be the central focus of our preparedness. We are in an interim period across all theaters of combat. All theaters remain active at varying levels of intensity. The theaters are interconnected, and every action in one may affect the others,” Zamir says.

He says the IDF “must continue to remain vigilant and prepared for rapid escalation and an immediate return to fighting” on all fronts.

Zamir adds that the IDF “must use the coming period to reduce burnout, care for our people, and improve operational readiness.”