David Gendelman. Syria, Hamas, Iran: Is Israel Starting a Big War?
🧠 Military expert David Gendelman in a candid interview about Israel's current security and strategic risks.
🎙️ Topics of the episode:
🚀 Houthi shelling of Ben Gurion Airport - why did the air defense system fail?
🔥 Operation in Gaza - goals and risks
🧩 Hostages and storming Hamas - can they be combined?
🪖 IDF reservists and resources - how long will we last?
🗺️ Syrian Druze - a real area of responsibility?
⚠️ Turkey and Iran - is the threat real or rhetoric?
🕒 [00:00 – 01:04] Introduction: the goal of the war is unclear
Statements about victory over Hamas and the return of hostages - but priorities are blurred.
🕒 [01:04 – 03:04] Conflicting Goals: Hostages vs. Victory
Public Pressure Prevents the Army from Acting Consistently
🕒 [03:04 – 05:08] Yemeni Missiles and Air Defenses
The Failure to Intercept Two Houthi Missiles Is a Rare, but Systemic Case
🕒 [05:08 – 07:12] Negotiations and Operation Whitkoff
Tactical Waiting: The Army Does Not Expand Its Actions Without a Political Signal
🕒 [07:12 – 09:16] Possible Deal: Pause for Hostages
Scenario: Partial Exchange and Temporary Ceasefire
🕒 [09:16 – 11:20] IDF Mobilization and Goals
Reservists Called Up – Army Ready to Hold, Not to Take Over
🕒 [11:20 – 13:24] New tactics: holding territories
For the first time, the IDF remains in captured areas and eliminates infrastructure.
🕒 [13:24 – 15:30] Society and the army: different tasks
Citizens demand the rescue of hostages, the army carries out the battle plan.
🕒 [15:30 – 18:25] Personnel shortage
Up to 30,000 soldiers are needed to hold Gaza – resources are insufficient.
🕒 [18:25 – 22:05] Who will go to serve: reserves and haredim
Hidden reserves: former fighters and haredim – a matter of law and reform.
🕒 [22:05 – 26:33] Investigation of October 7 – rejected
Political leadership blocks the committee. The army is learning on its own.
🕒 [26:33 – 30:15] Syrian Druze and the Israeli position
Syria is escalating, but Israel is not intervening directly.
🕒 [30:15 – 35:45] Druze: myths, divisions and Israeli reality
Druze loyalty is not absolute. Internal cracks and local interests.
🕒 [35:45 – 41:00] Turkey: from words to actions
Turkey is increasing pressure on Israel, including economic steps.
🕒 [41:00 – 45:00] Possible war with Turkey and Julani
The threat is low, but deconfliction with Ankara is important. Julani is under observation.
🕒 [45:00 – 47:30] Iran, the US and the Count on Washington
Whether there will be a strike on Iran depends on the US position. Israel will not go alone.
Arkady Mil-Man is a senior research fellow and head of the Russia Studies Program at the Institute for National Security Studies (INSS). https://www.inss.org.il/
Former Israeli Ambassador to the Russian Federation.
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