IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir met this morning (Friday) with Major General David Zini and finalized his upcoming retirement from the military, following a long and distinguished combat career. The move comes as a further step toward Zini’s expected appointment as head of the ISA (Shin Bet), as announced earlier this week by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Zamir Praises Zini’s Service
In a statement, the IDF noted that the Chief of Staff expressed deep appreciation for Zini’s many years of service to Israel’s security. Zamir also emphasized that any discussion between IDF personnel and political leadership must be pre-approved by the Chief of Staff—a pointed remark in light of recent reports surrounding sensitive security appointments.
Yesterday, the Prime Minister authorized the release of an excerpt from a classified report written by Zini in March 2023—just six months before the deadly October 7 terror attack.
The Zini Report
In the report, which was sent to the commander of the Gaza Division, Zini warned of insufficient IDF preparedness for a sudden Hamas incursion:”In nearly every sector, a surprise raid on our forces is possible, in a way that the principle ‘we may be surprised but not defeated’ does not hold.”
He added:”Everyone talks about the headline of a ‘surprise raid,’ but when the threat is broken down into practical terms—understanding and implementation are hollow or nonexistent. The main gap lies in the mindset of the forces and the system.”
