[READ TRANSCRIPT HERE]

Israel has faced mounting pressure from the international community as well as from the Biden administration not to finish the job it has begun in Gaza. On Thursday, while speaking over the phone with Prime Minister Netanyahu, President Biden said that “an immediate ceasefire is necessary to protect innocent civilians.” An administration official reported that President Biden is very agitated over the killing of seven World Central Kitchen aid workers.

While speaking in Selma, Alabama in early March Vice President Kamala Harris called for “an immediate cease-fire” in Gaza.  One week ago,  addressing the Israel-Hamas War, the Vice President also warned “We have been very clear. It would be a mistake to move into Rafah, if there would be a military operation”. Asked if the Vice President would be ruling out that there would be consequences if Israel were to invade Rafah, Ms. Harris said, “I am ruling out nothing.”

Beyond that, some analysts have argued that Israel cannot ever complete the job of eradicating Hamas and that Israel’s operations in Gaza have led to a huge uptick in worldwide antisemitism.

Yet, last week, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told a visiting Congressional delegation, that Rafah was “the last stronghold” of Hamas, and that Israel was “weeks away from victory” in its last existential war against Hamas. The Prime Minister made the analogy to World War II, saying “leaving a part of the Nazi army in place, and saying don’t go there..like  leaving a quarter of the German army in place in Berlin.”

And in recent polls, the vast majority of Israelis support completing the mission in Gaza.

Here to explain the Israeli position, and why winning this war is so important, not just for Israel’s security, but for all the West,  is Brigadier General Amir Avivi (Res.) of the Israeli Defense Forces.

About the Speaker: Brigadier General (Ret.) Amir Avivi is the Founder and CEO of Israel’s Defense and Security Forum (IDSF) which is comprised of more than 22,000 senior reserve/retired officers, commanders, and operators from all branches of the Israeli security establishment. Retired from the IDF after more than 30 years of military, counter-terrorism, and national security experience, he held various command positions in the Corps of Engineers leading thousands of soldiers in a dynamic environment combating terrorism.

Brigadier General Amir Avivi (ret.) concluded his service as the Head of the Auditing and Consulting Department of the Israeli Defense Establishment, (including the Israel Defense Force, the Ministry of Defense and Israeli Military Industries). In that position, Avivi managed more than 100 military auditors and advisors. He was responsible for the audit of military readiness, budgeting, procurement, projects, bids, cyber, logistics, infrastructure and operations. Avivi fulfilled various command positions in the Corps of Engineers leading thousands of soldiers in a dynamic combat environment.

Avivi served as Brigade commander, Deputy Division commander and head of the Military School of Engineers. He also served as the aide-de-camp for the Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, Lt. General Moshe “Bogie” Yaalon.

Avivi was at the heart of the policy making process in the Israeli Government and Defense establishment during that term. Avivi also serves as the Principal of the New State Solution working group. Avivi is the Founder & CEO of Habithonistim.