Retired General Slams Ofer Winter, Backs Netanyahu's War Management
Retired Brigadier General Amir Avivi, founder of the "Bitachonistim" movement, launched a sharp and unusual attack on Ofer Winter, chairman of the "Am Israel" party. Avivi's criticism followed Winter's recent speech, in which he criticized the government's conduct and claimed it failed to achieve a clear victory in Gaza.
Avivi stated he has been observing Winter's war-related statements for about a year and a half, finding them lacking in "depth of thought and understanding of national and international strategy in a multi-front war." He distinguished between battlefield command abilities and political and strategic leadership, asserting that "a good tactician is not necessarily a skilled strategist or statesman. These are entirely different worlds."
According to Avivi, Winter presents a slogan-based approach that ignores constraints, the need for prioritization between fronts, and the regional and international considerations involved in decision-making. Avivi criticized Winter's approach as simplistic, comparing it to someone shouting at a referee without understanding the game's rules.
Avivi recounted founding the "Bitachonistim" movement three years before the current war to challenge existing security concepts and promote a long-term national security vision. He noted he had warned in his writings and a published book about the possibility of a multi-front war. Following the October 7th Hamas attack, he dedicated his efforts to supporting the public, the security system, and the government.
Having gained close insight into national decision-making processes during the war, Avivi expressed strong support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's handling of the conflict. "I professionally believe the campaign is being managed by the Prime Minister in a most impressive manner, and it is not yet over," Avivi wrote, calling Netanyahu's decisions "historic and brave."
Avivi specifically highlighted Operation "With All Your Might" as a pivotal event, comparable in importance to the Six-Day War, which he believes is reshaping the region. He also praised Netanyahu's ability to enlist U.S. support as a "historic event that will be spoken of much in the future." Avivi concluded, "I have no doubt that victory will come, but it will come with deep thought, determination, strategic patience, and alongside continued global political activity. Wars are not won with empty slogans, and certainly not from the sidelines."
