ByAMIR BOHBOT, AVI SOLOMON

JULY 9, 2026 05:54

President Isaac Herzog spoke on Wednesday during the National Security College graduation event, stressing that Israel's security and law enforcement agencies serve the country and its citizens rather than any single leader or political group.

"The security and law enforcement bodies in the State of Israel are not loyal to a person or to one camp or another, but to the sovereign, the people in Israel, to the Israeli book of laws, and to the values of the Jewish and democratic state," Herzog stated during the event.

These comments came after David Zini discussed his decision to accept Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposal to lead the Shin Bet.

"The reason I agreed to the prime minister’s offer to take the position is that I felt I was more qualified than many others in the ability to be loyal to the elected echelon, no matter what opinion," Zini noted.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir also spoke at the ceremony about the security issues Israel faces and the importance of growing the military's personnel.

Zamir noted that Israel is experiencing one of its toughest times, following over two and a half years of ongoing conflict that has altered the region.

He reiterated the necessity to broaden IDF recruitment as the Basic Law on Torah Study moves forward. This legislation aims to align the standing of Torah students with military service members.

"We must significantly expand the ranks of the IDF, so that it can meet all the missions imposed on it," Zamir said. "The responsibility is on all of us, the IDF needs everyone. We must not exempt anyone from the burden of the commandment of defending the state. This is an operational need and a Zionist and moral duty," Zamir added.

Zamir also touched on the October 7 attack and the significant costs borne by the fallen, injured, hostages, and their loved ones.

'We are obligated to draw lessons, improve, and grow'

"October 7 and the thousand days of war that have passed since are not only a wound, they are our operational compass," he said. "They remind us every hour of the magnitude of the responsibility placed on the IDF and on the rest of the security organizations, and of the unbearably heavy price of personal and systemic failures and shortcomings."

"Out of this pain, we are obligated to draw lessons, improve, and grow," he stressed.

Zamir commended the course graduates, noting their generation's vast operational background.

"You are an unprecedented generation of commanders," he said. "You arrived at the study benches with your shoes still covered in the dust of battle, carrying operational experience that few in the world have experienced."

Later, Zamir pointed out the IDF's successes in the conflict.

'The enemy was struck hard'

"Between the background noise and the manipulations of tweets, responses, opinions, and interpretations, there is also a truth carved in stone: The IDF has brought unprecedented operational achievements in every arena in which it fought," he said. "The enemy was struck hard, we distanced existential threats, and our security situation is better."

Yet, Zamir indicated the operation persists.

"Even if a new chapter opens, the campaign continues; it only changes form," he said. "We will continue to act with determination, initiative, operational cunning, and offensiveness."