IDF intelligence chief tells new officers to always ‘voice your professional opinion’

Speaking at an intelligence officers’ graduation ceremony, the chief of the Military Intelligence Directorate says the IDF’s intelligence is enabling “widespread blows against our enemies, from Gaza to Iran.”

“For almost 90 days the State of Israel and the IDF have been in a multi-front war. The IDF, including the Military Intelligence Directorate, is operating in all the arenas and fronts, in defense and offense,” says Maj. Gen Aharon Haliva. “The IDF’s activity, in all dimensions of combat, is based on intelligence.”

“The high-quality and rich intelligence that the Military Intelligence Directorate provides saves the lives of many soldiers every day who risk their lives in the field, and results in widespread blows against our enemies from Gaza to Iran, in all arenas in the face of complex challenges,” Haliva says.

“This is not an easy campaign. It will take time. But we will achieve the goals. We have the strength, the power, and the ability. And we have you; you are the most valuable and important asset we have,” he continues.

Amid reports that senior intelligence officers ignored had warnings by lower-ranking soldiers about Hamas’s planned October 7 onslaught, Haliva says: “I expect you to voice your professional opinion, always. Everywhere, in front of every echelon and every rank. Even if it is different, critical, and disagreeable.”

“You, all of you, are the future generation of the Intelligence Directorate. The ones who will apply the lessons of war, will pass them on and will do everything, so that such an event never happens again. Learn from the mistakes and remember to keep the good things,” he says.