Micha Avnimelech: The Father of the Concept

Micha Avnimelech analyzes the roots of the failure that led to October 7: contempt for the enemy and the decline of organizational culture in the military. He predicts a state commission of inquiry will not change opinions in a divided society, and calls for deep change by learning from high-tech companies.

Micha Avnimelech, a social activist and businessman, coins the term 'father of the concept' in reference to the failures that led to the October 7, 2023 attack. He predicts that a state commission of inquiry to be established in the coming weeks will be essential but will not change opinions in a divided society. According to him, most facts are known and the dispute is over the connection between responsibility and blame. He identifies two deep failures: contempt for the enemy (the assumption that Hamas is incapable of a large-scale operation) and an organizational cultural failure in the military, expressed in complacency, mediocrity, lack of readiness, and undefended bases. Avnimelech calls for deep cultural change and learning from successful high-tech companies, quoting Andy Grove: 'Only the paranoid survive.'