Retired General Warns Israelis to Rethink Living in Central Tel Aviv Amid Security Concerns

Retired Major General Gershon Cohen issued an unusual warning about the concentration of Israel's population in the central region, particularly around the Tel Aviv metropolitan area, amid fears of escalating security threats. In a radio interview on 104.5FM, Cohen urged citizens to reconsider living in central Tel Aviv or near strategic assets, framing it as a matter of personal risk management. He criticized current population policies, noting that Israel has moved away from the vision of its founding father, David Ben-Gurion, who advocated dispersing the population to avoid large concentrations in the Gush Dan area.

Cohen also condemned the closure of Sde Dov Airport, calling it a strategic mistake and lamenting that a metropolitan city lacks an airport. He proposed a policy shift to encourage broader settlement across the country, including northern, southern, and eastern regions such as the Jordan Valley, envisioning a population of four million Jews spread from the Arad line to the Gilboa mountains.

Additionally, Cohen warned against rushing peace agreements in the north, suggesting such deals could lead to future threats. He also defended IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir against accusations of being politically motivated, dismissing those claims.

The interview highlights concerns about Israel's demographic and security strategies amid regional tensions and calls for a more dispersed population to mitigate risks.