A ceremony marking the beginning of the Jewish year was held Tuesday at the Eshkol Regional Council, led by Southern Command Chief Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asur and attended by division commanders, brigade commanders, local authority heads from the western Negev, and additional senior officers.
During the event, Maj. Gen. Asur addressed the NAZA documentary scandal that falsely maligned IDF soldiers, an incident that has roiled both the political echelon and the military.
"Nearly three years have passed since that terrible morning, Simchat Torah Shabbat, 06:29 in the morning, the day and hour when the heavens fell. The fracture was terrible, the disaster was enormous, your trust in us was broken, the personal security of Israeli citizens was severely damaged, but we rose from the ruins, gathered them, recovered, fought as one with a single fate and destiny, we were forced to go to war the likes of which we had never known," the general recounted.
Maj. Gen. Asur used the toast ceremony to address the video scandal designed to level false accusations against IDF soldiers, opening by saying: "War is an ancient phenomenon, difficult, painful and cruel. It requires tremendous fortitude, and in order to continue and persevere through the years, despite its heavy costs, faith and righteousness of the path are required. And we are right! We are right, we carry a torch of light and goodness and are fighting a great war against darkness and evil."
The general went on to explain the nature of the enemy: "Hamas is embedded in the heart of a population that supports, sympathizes with and identifies with it. Hamas is not foreign to Gaza, it grew from within it, was raised and educated there, within a radical and murderous Islamic culture, and yes, there are also those who oppose its path, but they do not succeed in influencing reality."
He emphasized the morality of the Israel Defense Forces: "In many ways, it can be said that we are raising the banner of the right of an enlightened, democratic, values-based and moral state to defend itself, to fight without fear, in order to defeat a terror organization that seeks to destroy it and whose arsenal contains nothing but barbaric, base, inhuman and immoral murder. And throughout this entire war, we insist on keeping our camp pure, distinguishing between an enemy and those who are not involved, striking the enemy, thwarting it while simultaneously doing everything in our power to minimize harm to those not involved. Hamas, in contrast, cynically uses civilians as human shields and cover for itself, benefits if they are harmed, and benefits if we refrain from striking them and its operatives."
In his remarks, the commander addressed the army's transparency: "In the face of false accusations, we will present facts. To difficult questions, we will answer honestly. And when a failure is revealed among us, we will investigate, learn and correct. Faith in the righteousness of our path obligates us to this as well. This is not a declaration of our perfection, but rather a commitment that binds us in every command and every decision, and also in the courage to examine ourselves and correct what needs correcting."
Against the backdrop of attempts to damage the state's reputation, the general noted: "Our strength is mighty and our spirit is strong, and therefore those who slander us seek to harm our name in the world, to introduce doubt into our hearts and undermine our cohesion. To dull our minds so that we forget that justice is on our side, as Alterman warned in his poem 'Then the Satan Said.' They will not succeed!"
Regarding operations in the field, Asur noted: "Today we are defending the communities from within the Strip, we have established a new defensive line and we are operating in the Yellow Line area to distance the threat, thwart terrorists and terror infrastructure and prevent Hamas from rebuilding its capabilities. We have struck the tunnel network, weaponry and production infrastructure, and we continue to pursue and remove every threat facing Israeli citizens."
He then turned to the commanders: "Brigade and division commanders, continue to lead with courage, with endless dedication, with commitment to IDF values and Jewish morality, and to cling with self-sacrifice until victory is achieved. You have the backing of your commanders, the love and trust of the people."
In closing, the general's words addressed the residents of the south and the commitment to them: "Local authority heads and residents of the Negev, our mission is to enable you to live here in security, to raise children, to work, to build and to prosper. That is the purpose for which we fight. We are here, and with humility and full commitment to ensure that forever, and never again! A good and blessed year."
