Smotrich: New IDF command must be ready to continue war until total victory

By Sam Sokol 21 January 2025, 4:41 pm

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Sam Sokol is a former political correspondent at The Times of Israel. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich welcomes IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi’s announcement that he intends to resign on March 6 and praises him for his decades of service, including his “great military achievements… on all fronts” during the current war.

“My criticism of his failure in the campaign to eliminate Hamas’s civilian and governmental capabilities, as well as his responsibility for the October 7th failure, does not in the least diminish the large debt of gratitude we owe him for all his work and contributions over the years and for his achievements,” Smotrich says.

“The coming period will be marked by the replacement of the senior military command as part of preparations for the renewal of the war, this time in the name of not ending the war until total victory. I am confident that the defense minister will succeed in the task with responsibility, professionalism and determination, and I will assist him in this as necessary.”