How Public Discipline Became Israel’s Most Powerful Weapon Against Iran | EXCLUSIVE JFEED INTERVIEW

As tensions fluctuate across the Middle East, the roar of interceptors and the wail of sirens have become a recurring reality for millions of Israelis. While the Iron Dome and the Arrow defense systems provide a high-tech shield in the sky, Israel’s military leadership insists that the country’s most effective "interceptor" isn't made of metal, it is the disciplined behavior of its citizens.

At the heart of this domestic resilience is the Home Front Command’s Information and Public Diplomacy Unit. During emergencies, specialized officers are deployed to television and radio studios across the country to provide real-time, life-saving instructions and verified threats analysis. Their mission is critical: bridge the gap between high-level security assessments and still keep the daily routine of the Israeli civilians as much as possible considering the current and ongoing emergency situation.

To understand better this essential mission, we turn to the man of the hour when it's not a regular alarm clock but a national wake-up call by a siren, Major (Res.) Itzhak Tessler, a veteran journalist and editor for Israel’s popular news website, Ynet. During emergencies, he serves as a Home Front Command spokesperson for a variety of mass media stations, especially i24 News Israel TV channel.

Itzhak Tessler, can you describe the primary role of a Home Front Command spokesperson during a national crisis or the war with Iran?

"Our core mission is accessibility. The Israeli government constantly updates defense policies based on a delicate balance: protecting human life while ensuring the national economy and essential services continue to function. We take those complex decisions and translate them into clear, actionable instructions for the public regarding schools, workplaces, and public gatherings.

Whether the threat comes from Hezbollah in the north, Houthi drones from Yemen, or long-range ballistic missiles from Iran, our job is to tell the citizen exactly what to do and, just as importantly, what not to do. Compliance with these instructions is Israel’s "human Iron Dome." It's what minimizes casualties and ultimately allows the civilians to overcome fear and confusion and keep on living their lives as regularly as possible until the war is over or the crisis resolves."

You often speak about "lessons learned" after every emergency event or missile attack accompanied by sirens. How does real-world incidents shape and improve your messaging systems?

"We analyze every event. Just this week in Tel Aviv, a driver who continued driving during a siren and chose to ignore it admitted later that he regretted not following 'Pikud Ha'oref' specific self-defense instructions for the civilian population. Driving in stress because of an alert and under bridges can lead to fatal accidents and even worse outcome than that. We instruct drivers to pull over, stay away from the vehicle, and lie flat on the ground with their hands protecting their heads. This isn't guesswork; it is knowledge accumulated from years of data analyzed by the world’s leading experts in civil defense. Our role is a double-edged sword: we praise the public when they follow the rules, but we also must issue firm warnings about the dangers of complacency."

Israel is a diverse society. How do you ensure your message reaches everyone, especially the Ultra-Orthodox and religious sectors who may not follow mainstream media?

"We cannot rely on miracles. The Home Front Command operates specialized desks for different populations, Arabs, new immigrants, Russian speakers, the elderly, and people with disabilities. My own background in the Haredi (Ultra-Orthodox) community allows me to help bridge that specific gap. We saw the success of this tailored approach during the COVID-19 pandemic. When you explain the 'why' and the 'how' in a way that respects a community's lifestyle with unique media consumption habits, the level of cooperation rising respectively."

Do you believe the Israeli model of civil defense is something other nations can learn from?

"Absolutely. We have a massive, sophisticated operations desk filled with dedicated officers who are constantly refining how we communicate better and focused on the crucial details in a short period of broadcast time. This infrastructure is a global benchmark. If other nations ever find themselves in a similar state of emergencies, the Israeli model of proactive, segmented, and real-time public diplomacy is a life-saving blueprint they could certainly implement for their own good."

As a significant player in the Israeli civil defense front team at the studios in this current confrontation with Iran, how vital is public discipline to the broader military effort?

"This is perhaps the most important point. The Commander of the Home Front Command places immense weight on public diplomacy because it's crucial to military freedom of movement. When the citizens are protected and following protocols, it reduces the 'domestic pressure' on the IDF. Knowing the home front is secure and resilient allows the army to focus entirely on its vital operations, including neutralizing the immediate threats in Iran. By staying safe, the Israeli citizens actively helping the soldiers succeed in their holy missions and restore peace and quiet to the Holy Land of Israel. As religious Jews pray at the end of the 'Kaddish' in synagogues everywhere: 'Hashem oz le'amo yiten, Hashem yevarech et amo bashalom' (May God give strength to his people. May God bless his people with peace)."