Eyal Zamir sounded the alarm 3 years ago: "Army has become a hi-tech company"
The incoming chief of staff criticized tank cuts and shifting budgets away from traditional forces.


Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, who will take over as chief of staff in about a month, presented a work plan during the race for chief of staff against Herzi Halevi three years ago, in which he detailed his security doctrine and warned against reducing the IDF's manpower, Kan Reshet Bet reported this morning.
Zamir claimed at the time that the reduction was life-threatening, and claimed that the IDF was already on the verge of a minimum manpower at the time. Zamir also expressed concern for the future and the cohesion of the reserve system, which had been shrinking.
Zamir warned that "the army has become a high-tech company," while criticizing then-Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi's approach. At the same time, he criticized the decision not to preserve dozens of tanks and to transfer budgets for development and investment in advanced technologies.
Regarding Hamas in the Gaza Strip, Zamir claimed that it "manufactures rockets and is busy building up its forces." Regarding Iran, Zamir claimed that "Israel lost precious time, as it stopped investing in the nuclear project with Iran when it signed the nuclear agreement in 2015." According to him, "Israel has not invested a budget on the issue beyond the defense budget."
Yesterday it was reported that the designated Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz are expected to make a series of dramatic changes in the General Staff starting this March, as soon as Zamir's term begins, which could lead to a change in the continuation of the war.
Zamir and Katz are expected to reinstate Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor as commander of the Southern Command, replacing Yaron Finkelman, who asked to end his position. Northern Command Maj. Gen. Uri Gordin is slated to be appointed head of Military Intelligence, replacing Shlomi Binder.
Maj. Gen. David Zini is expected to be appointed head of the Operations Directorate or commander of the Northern Command, and Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, commander of the Ground Forces, is expected to be appointed deputy chief of staff.