“A Point of No Return” and a new Military Doctrine: Parsing the statement by Israel’s Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir

On June 20, 2025, Israel's IDF Chief of Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir, addressed Israeli citizens via video message.

Check the IDF Substack Mission Brief for the English version of this text. Then observe the delivery regardless of your Hebrew fluency. Zamir’s statement is available on YouTube. Note the no-nonsense, understated businesslike, presentation. Those unfamiliar with the style can think of Sergeant Joe Friday on the 1950s American TV police series Dragnet, ‌saying, "Just the facts, ma'am."

The style is important this time. The public appearances of our prime minister and defense minister, though meticulously planned, convey an impression of audacious improvisation. Despite this, the Israeli public's distrust of them and their party limits the impact of their emotionally manipulative rhetoric.

Zamir keeps his crafted video statements short. His straightforward speech is more professional and responsible than the over-the-top rhetoric of Netanyahu and Katz. Israeli morale needs this.

His statement strongly suggests the campaign's position at the time he spoke. That, however, is subject to change. Current reports on the conflict are rapidly outdated, exemplified by last night’s American bombing of Fordo.

However, Zamir’s video message also highlights how the preemptive Iran strike showcases future defense strategies.

These points, in particular, deserve closer examination:

• "Citizens of Israel, A week ago, I gave the order. Operation ״Rising Lion״ was underway."

Zamir's opening statement accepts responsibility for how the war was conducted. This shows leadership. The PM has not taken responsibility for what happened on October 7th. Zamir will not hide behind Netanyahu. Netanyahu might use Zamir as a shield if the war fails.

• "For years, the Iranians have been building a clear plan to annihilate the State of Israel. In recent months, that plan reached the point of no return, as intentions transformed into capabilities."

In this statement, Zamir argues in favor of the attack. We conclude, based on their past actions, that if the Ayatollahs had achieved nuclear weapons, they would have used them against us.

• "The IDF does not stand idly by in the face of developing threats. As part of a dynamic approach, we act proactively and in advance in order to prevent existential threats and in the face of any challenge."

This sentence may be the most important one in the text when analyzing Israel’s current fundamental security ideas. A subtle point in the translation clarifies the overall meaning.

Using the Hebrew term "tefisah mit-havah" (תפיסה מתהווה), Zamir presented the Israeli strategic approach to threats. The IDF Spokesperson's Office rendered the term in English as "dynamic approach." Morfix's online dictionary lists "to come into being, to be created" as the definition of מתהווה. In this context, I suggest that it also connotes deep examination of the issues along with the impermanence that comes from intellectual flexibility.

The Nagel Commission's recommendations (December 31, 2024) are relevant here. Netanyahu asked the commission to suggest a future security force structure and defense budget. The recommendations abandoned the long-held "absorption" strategy in favor of building a force that can conduct a preemptive, preventive approach to counterattacks.

We may hope that even if that recommendation has been adopted, it will be with the understanding that a “dynamic” security paradigm is not set in stone. Therefore, it will be less likely to become a lazy intellectual habit in the minds of defense analysts. One hopes that this “dynamic” nature will be a permanent feature of the strategic paradigm.

If Zamir accurately reflects the current state of thinking in Israel’s defense establishment, and as CoS, it is likely that he does, this shift will be limited only by the need to keep an open mind.

• "... we must be ready for a prolonged campaign."‌

The CoS advises against overconfidence, urging us to bolster ourselves for the challenges to come. Two of his phrases show this. His first was a warning that a rapid victory, like that of the Six-Day War, shouldn't be expected. This conflict will likely be prolonged.

The second part of Zamir's advice was the concluding quote.

• "Be strong and let us be strengthened for our people."

Zamir quoted from the biblical Book of 2 Samuel 10:2. These words were spoken by King David's general, Yoav, as he faced battle and found the Arameans and the Ammonites, approaching him from front and rear. Yoav took the elite soldiers with him to face the Arameans. He tasked his brother Avishai to face the Ammonites with the remaining Judean forces. Yoav's troops repelled the Arameans, which caused the Ammonites to flee Avishai's contingent.

According to the text, the biblical victory was ultimately due to God’s will, but also because Yoav's soldiers followed his advice. Zamir thinks we should do the same.