Former Deputy IDF Chief Says Israel’s Edge Is Ground Control Despite Iran Deal

Retired Maj. Gen. Uzi Dayan, a former deputy IDF chief, said on Tuesday in an interview with Oded Menashe that the new U.S.-Iran understandings were reached because Iran is acting from weakness, not strength. He said, “The Iranians are not doing this memorandum of understanding from a position of power. They are doing it out of compulsion.”

Dayan added that even people involved in the talks still do not know all the details, because the sides have been given about 60 days to discuss the memorandum. He said the process could even be described as a “memorandum of misunderstandings,” but noted that the public not knowing every detail is not necessarily a bad thing.

He argued that Israel’s main advantage is its control of territory and its responsibility for civilian security. “We are the only ones really on the ground,” he said, referring to Israel’s presence in Lebanon, Gaza and Syria, and added that Israel could also operate in Iran if it chose to do so.

On the northern front, Dayan said Israel should not withdraw forces and should keep destroying Hezbollah infrastructure. “We must not give up one meter of land,” he said. He also urged Israel to present Lebanon with a clear ultimatum, saying it should be framed as “you or Hezbollah.”