This morning (Wednesday), the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, visited the Tel Nof Air Force Base together with the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.
As part of the visit, the Chief of the General Staff attended a joint exercise between Unit 669 and "Yas'ur" helicopters. Afterwards, the Chief of Staff held an official discussion with the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force and additional commanders in the Israeli Air Force, during which he expressed his gratitude for their work and their operational performances.
Chief of the General Staff, LTG Herzi Halevi, said: “The IDF is currently engaged in preserving its capabilities and unity, even when there is tension between the two. It does so through internal and external discourse with its people and by precisely monitoring and assessing its capabilities. There is no other way."
"The IDF faces operational challenges on a night-to-night basis. The current state of security obliges us to operate every single day, in every arena, as well as ready the IDF for the next war. The Israeli Air Force is required to utilize its operational capabilities every day in a precise and professional manner in the face of security challenges.
"These security challenges set an operational reality that requires the cohesion of active duty forces and reservists, who constitute an inseparable part of the IDF. The IDF was founded on the basis of its reserve forces. They are Israel’s best and we cherish them. Without them, the model of the ‘people’s army’ would not have held over the past 75 years. The contract between us acts as the State of Israel’s insurance. The calls for not showing up to reserve service harm the IDF.
"The achievements of the Air Force in recent months have been remarkably significant and I appreciate them greatly. The commanders and soldiers in the Air Force, as with the rest of the IDF, do everything in their power to provide security to the State of Israel while preserving capabilities and unity. I see in this visit the attention to the quality of the people, both in active and reserve duty, in the cockpit and under the wing, technicians and intelligence personnel. This network serves as both an example and a blueprint in the State of Israel for how complex problems and tasks can be handled effectively and successfully, even when there is a high risk involved.
"I would like to use this visit as an opportunity to tell you that I trust the Israeli Air Force. More than that, I have faith in its abilities and qualities, which are based on the dedicated and professional individuals who risk their lives to fulfill the mission of security," Halevi concluded.