Retired General Nitzan Alon Calls for New Israeli Leadership

Retired Major General Nitzan Alon, who previously headed the staff for hostages and missing persons, has sharply criticized the Israeli government's actions and called for new leadership. Speaking during an online discussion hosted by the Washington Institute for Near East Policy on October 2, Alon stated that Israeli society is strong but requires different leadership to implement necessary changes and guide the nation with a realistic approach, rather than relying on slogans like "total victory."

Alon also reflected on the erosion of IDF values, which he first noted in late August during an event for the LEAD program for leadership development. He observed a significant decline in values among some soldiers and commanders, attributing it not only to the prolonged war but also to internal societal disputes over national values. He specifically mentioned instances in Judea and Samaria where soldiers have behaved improperly, sometimes witnessing or participating in illegal and immoral actions, and stressed that army commanders must address these issues directly.

Addressing the events of October 7, 2023, Alon assigned responsibility to the political leadership for the overall strategy concerning Hamas in Gaza. He asserted that the accumulated intelligence, along with data from observers and signals on the night of the attack, should have been recognized as a genuine warning, necessitating immediate action. Alon described this as the core of the failure, encompassing both intelligence and military aspects.