Yom Kippur War Hero Compares 1973 and 2023 Failures, Calls for State Inquiry
Translated & summarized from Kan News by baba
Retired Major General Emmanul Sackal, a Yom Kippur War hero who lost his son Yoav in Lebanon, drew parallels between the 1973 and 2023 failures. He called for an immediate state commission of inquiry, addressed ultra-Orthodox draft evasion, and urged an end to the government's conflict with the judiciary. Sackal also emphasized the need for national reconciliation and noted that while defense officials have taken responsibility, "only one is not guilty of anything."
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Retired Major General Emmanul Sackal compared the failures of October 2023 to those of the 1973 Yom Kippur War.
- Sackal called for an immediate state commission of inquiry to investigate the events leading to the October 7th attacks.
- He criticized the draft evasion of 90,000 ultra-Orthodox men, stating, 'We will die and not enlist.'
- Sackal urged an end to the government's conflict with the Supreme Court and Attorney General.
- He called for immediate national reconciliation to heal the deep divisions within Israeli society.
- Sackal noted that while defense officials have accepted responsibility, 'only one is not guilty of anything.'
Retired Major General Emmanul Sackal, a recipient of the Medal of Courage from the Yom Kippur War whose son Yoav was killed in Lebanon, stated in a Monday interview that the failures of October 2023 mirror those of October 1973. Speaking on Kan News radio, Sackal recalled the start of the 1973 war, when he commanded a tank battalion and witnessed wounded soldiers, thinking, "How foolish we are, this didn't have to be like this." He drew a parallel to October 7, 2023, expressing the same sentiment: "How foolish we are, this didn't have to be like this."
Sackal, who lost his son Yoav in a battle in southern Lebanon in 1986, expressed deep concern for the nation's future, stating, "From my advanced age, I fear the destruction of the Third Temple." He emphasized that if current issues are not rectified, there is no guarantee of national survival. Despite his grave concerns, Sackal affirmed his commitment to remaining in Israel, comparing it to a mother one doesn't abandon in distress. He maintains ties to two graves: his son Yoav and his wife.
Following the upcoming elections, Sackal proposed four immediate steps. First, he called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry to investigate the failures leading to the October 7th attacks, citing a multitude of errors and blunders. Second, he addressed the issue of draft evasion among the ultra-Orthodox, deeming it unacceptable that 90,000 young men are not enlisting, a situation that pains him deeply when he considers his son's sacrifice. Third, he urged an end to the government's conflict with the Supreme Court and the Attorney General, whom he described as a heroic woman. Finally, he called for immediate national reconciliation.
When questioned about accountability, Sackal noted that senior defense officials have either resigned or accepted responsibility. He pointedly remarked, "Only one does not resign, only one is not guilty of anything." While avoiding direct political analysis, he stated that a chief of staff obeys the political echelon, as it should be. He assessed the current Chief of Staff as performing his duty well in ensuring the army's readiness for war.
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