Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin, former IAF commander, told the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University on Tuesday that Israel has not inflicted enough damage on Iran to bring it to the right negotiating point, and that another military round may follow. He assessed that the military-strategic reality will not yield further gains with more bombs alone, and that Israel now requires political decisions at a significant crossroads.
Former IAF commander Maj. Gen. (res.) Amikam Norkin on Tuesday assessed at the Herzliya Conference at Reichman University that Israel has not inflicted sufficient damage on Iran to bring it to the appropriate point in negotiations, and that another military round may therefore be necessary. Norkin stated that the military-strategic reality will not yield further gains with more bombs alone, and that Israel now faces a significant crossroads requiring political decisions.
Norkin's remarks come amid an ongoing strategic debate within Israel's security establishment over the effectiveness of military strikes against Iran's nuclear and military programs, and the role of diplomacy. His assessment aligns with previous critiques by other senior defense figures, including former INSS chief Tamir Heyman and former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot, who have questioned the disconnect between military operations and political strategy. Earlier this month, Chief of Staff Zamir warned that the strike on Iran was preparation for a much heavier blow, while Prime Minister Netanyahu signaled potential for additional rounds of fighting.
The Herzliya Conference annual gathering brings together Israeli policymakers, security officials, and academics to discuss strategic challenges. Norkin served as IAF commander from 2017 to 2022 and oversaw operations including the 2021 Operation Guardians of the Walls and reported strikes on Iranian-linked targets in Syria.
2 developments
- ConfirmedChief of Staff Zamir: Iran's attempt to set equations will fail, strike was preparation for heavier blow
- DevelopingFormer IDF chief Eisenkot slams political leadership, demands answers on Iran and war goals
- DevelopingSenior Israeli official: 'Our position is war — Iran must pay a heavy price'
- DevelopingAnalyst warns Israel won militarily but may lose the political aftermath
Source and signal
- Internal intake