With the cheers of the festivals, the 23rd Chief of Staff of the IDF, Lt. Col. Herzi Halevi, begins work today. It is doubtful that he will have one day of grace, and there is nothing to speak of for a hundred days.
In recent decades, there has not been a Chief of Staff who took office under such complex conditions - also from a security point of view, but certainly from a political point of view.
Security-wise, Colonel Halevi is taking over an army that for many years diverted its resources from preparing for an attack on Iran, in favor of other threats. But the easing of American sanctions on Iran, and the shuffling in negotiations to renew the nuclear agreement, led Iran to turn at once to uranium enrichment, and today, it is at a distance A few weeks from reaching the quantity required for one nuclear bomb.
Aviv Kochavi and Hatzi Halevi, photo: IDF spokesman
Israel recognized the trend late, and the IDF found itself without a plan good enough to stop the nuclear project on the day of the order. It was only in the middle of Chief of Staff Kochavi's term that the security establishment began to shift the wheel, and in the last work plan the preparations for a possible attack went into high gear.
These preparations, certainly under Netanyahu as Prime Minister, are expected to be a central part of Halevi's term.
At the same time, with Russia's approach to Iran and the threat to the IDF's freedom of action in the north, Halevi will be required to navigate the continuation of the campaign between the wars, and the effort to curb Iran's establishment in Syria and the entire Middle East.
In Gaza Halevi inherits a relatively quiet position.
But yesterday, in the midst of the ceremonies for the exchange of the chief of staff, Hamas made sure to send a painful reminder of the captives and missing persons issue, in the form of a video in which the captive Avra Mengistu was allegedly shown. There is no doubt that the timing is a planned provocation designed to attract attention on the festive day.
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Even in the face of Hezbollah, which is busy with the crisis in Lebanon, the sector is relatively quiet, but the silence is tense, and the situation can escalate suddenly.
As far as Judea and Samaria are concerned, the situation is more complex.
A few years ago, when Levi served as the head of the intelligence division, he placed on the table of the General Staff a strategic warning of escalation in the Palestinian arena.
The warning did not materialize then, but the past year has proven that we are closer than ever to a more severe outbreak in the arena.
There is a considerable probability that during Halevi's term, the 87-year-old Abu Mazen era will end, and this may further undermine the decree.
Not for nothing, Halevi will make his first visit to Judea and Samaria.
Defense Minister Yoav Galant with the outgoing and incoming Chief of Staff, photo: Ariel Harmoni, Ministry of Defense
The beginning of his term as Chief of Staff will also be accompanied by the cloud of the political and social crisis in Israel. In his speech yesterday at the Prime Minister's Office, Defense Minister Galant promised to make sure that "external pressures - political, legal and other - stop at me and do not reach the gates of the IDF." However, it is not certain until How well he will be able to keep his promise. After all, Likud and religious Zionism have agreed on the transfer of Civil Administration powers to Minister Smotrich and the subordination of the IOSH Police to Minister Ben Gabir. Furthermore, both aim to dramatically change the opening fire orders.
Beyond that, the 23rd Chief of Staff will face a particularly acute personnel crisis, as quality officers at the rank of lieutenant and major are deserting the army en masse.
After almost four decades of service, it is evident that Halevi is well aware of the challenges.
In recent weeks, the incoming Chief of Staff has had an orderly overlap with his predecessor, and has begun to prepare his work plans for the future. Meanwhile, he has not yet revealed them to the army or the public.
Unlike his predecessor, Halevi is a more modest and introverted person, and his charisma is less than Kochavi's.
But sometimes, and in this case too, it's better to let actions speak.
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