Yaron Blum hosts senior officials for a conversation about behind the scenes of the security establishment in the Israel Hayom defense podcast - "Highly classified".
This week: the former head of the personnel department in the IDF, and who until recently was MK and deputy speaker of the Knesset, Major General (res.) Orna Barbibai.
In a high classification - Yaron Blum hosts Orna Barbiei
Barbiei, who has been at the heart of public affairs for many years, arrived for a particularly charged interview.
At the beginning of the interview, she sharply criticized the failure of October 7, talked about the possibility of the return of the abductees, as well as their non-return, and expressed concern about the erosion of deterrence in the IOSH as well.
"The Israeli-Jewish ethos will not survive an operational failure," Barbiei said.
"If an Israeli knew he was exposed to any threat and the state did not stand behind him - the alliance between the public and the leaders, to the idea of Zionism and the state itself, could erode. I do not see a situation where we would leave 136 abductees in Gaza and say it is a risk we can take on. The value imperative is to return the abductees home." .
A space where the abductees were held captive by Hamas, photo: IDF spokesman
Regarding the settlements of Judea and Samaria, Barbiei said that the failure on October 7 may provoke the Palestinian residents to try to repeat a similar act.
"This turned on all our warning lights. The expression and anger has not yet manifested itself, because we are still in the middle of the war. The security system should be busy restoring deterrence."
She further added: "We did our homework from October 7. I suggest to any enemy not to challenge us."
Barbibai also praised the cooperation between the security forces and said that "there should be a challenge to the destruction of Hamas. How, why, with what methodology - it is not clear that this can be said here and now."
Netanyahu at the press conference. Photo: Tomer Appelbaum
Despite the much criticism leveled at Prime Minister Netanyahu, Barbiei clarified that in her opinion - without the humanitarian aid that Israel provides to Gaza, the country would not have the international legitimacy to continue fighting.
Barbiei referred to the disparities in the representation of women in combat in the IDF, an issue that is close to her heart and that she has worked hard to change: "We were blindly kept in the military system with the feeling that integrating 50% of the population was not necessary.
I have no doubt that where there are women, the quality of performance increases.
100% of the professions should be open to both sexes.
The war proved that it was possible.
In 2024 will we not allow equality?"
Tankists in the Border Protection Corps, photo: Oren Cohen
Finally, Barbiei spoke about the decision to run for Tel Aviv municipality.
"I thought I wanted to be in a place where I could influence. This is how I check myself. Am I influencing enough. I found that I am not close enough to people. People are my story. Throughout the years dealing with people challenges and fascinates me. Tel Aviv-Yafo has been a gem for years And I say - 25 years is far too much for anyone who holds a public office. I offer the public an alternative. I want to work for the people."
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