1973 war taught us ‘not to fall in love with our own ideas'

Ashkenazi responds to recently released state archives of inner cabinet meetings held before and during 1973 Yom Kippur war.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
ashkenazi 311 (photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
ashkenazi 311
(photo credit: IDF Spokesperson)
Israel “cannot absorb another Yom Kippur war,” IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi said in an opinion piece published in Ma’ariv on Friday.
“This war and the days that preceded it have taught us to research and question even those things which we view as being the truth, to contradict axioms and, most importantly, not to fall in love with our own ideas. Not to be captives of one concept, no matter how well formulated,” Ashkenazi wrote.
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The chief of staff was responding to recently released state archives of inner cabinet meetings held before and during the 1973 war.
“I know that the main lesson of the Yom Kippur War is that we must always have our finger on the pulse, not discount any enemy, be modest in our evaluations, ask questions, raise doubts, and be aware that we cannot rely on the successes of yesterday, because they are not valid today,” Ashkenazi continued.
The chief thing, he said, was to understand that “we know only what we know.
“The IDF must constantly be on alert, trained and ready. The publications from recent days make clear that the State of Israel, the IDF and Israeli society do not have the ability to absorb another ‘Yom Kippur,’” he added.
“This is why, after 62 years of independence, we draft every youth. It is the reason for placing the reserve units at the heart of the army. It is also the reason why they come [to serve].”
Security forces are working “day and night” to ensure optimal readiness, Ashkenazi said.