'We are winning, but the next threat is already inside Israel,' IDSF chairman says

In a Jerusalem Post podcast interview, IDSF chairman Brig.-Gen. (res.) Erez Winner asserts Israel is winning on all fronts, citing Iran's missiles striking Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan while avoiding Israel. He warns the next threat is internal: illegal weapons, crime in Arab society, and an armed Palestinian Authority. He calls the Gaza war's length a military failure and criticizes IDF professionalism.

In an interview with the Jerusalem Post's 'Defense & Tech' podcast, IDSF chairman Brig.-Gen. (res.) Erez Winner said Israel is winning on every front, pointing to Iran's missiles striking Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan while avoiding Israel. He argued this is not goodwill but deterrence, measured by enemy behavior. However, he warned the next threat is internal: illegal weapons smuggled into Israel, crime organizations in Arab society, and an armed Palestinian Authority in Judea and Samaria that could turn weapons on Israeli communities. Winner, who headed operational planning for the IDF's Southern Command from 2013 until about a year ago, was blunt about Gaza, calling the failure to end the war earlier a military failure and naming both former and current chiefs of staff. He cited research with Prof. Gabi Siboni on 12 historical cases, arguing Israel never met three conditions for victory: control of resources, territory, and population. He criticized the IDF's 'unprofessional professionalism,' saying two-year rotations prevent deep expertise and let manufacturers dictate purchases. He advocated for mass-produced, expendable AI-linked drones over expensive fighter jets.

'We are winning, but the next threat is already inside Israel,' IDSF chairman says