A leading retired IDF general believes that the Israeli military is best equipped to lead the fight against the deadly virus, and envisions that scenario in the foreseeable future.
By Tsivya Fox-Dobuler
Brigadier General (res.) Yehiel Gozal, a decorated Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldier who is now CEO of Yahad – United for Israel’s Soldiers, an organization that supports Israeli troops, believes the IDF is best equipped to lead the fight against coronavirus and will be called upon to do so in the near future.
Speaking with United with Israel on Tuesday, Gozal said Israel’s army is organized and prepared to fight every kind of war.
“To the IDF, it makes no difference if we are fighting enemy rockets, terror, Iran or coronavirus. We are well equipped and organized to take on any crisis,” Gozal explained.
Israel’s army doctors, nurses, paramedics, and combat medics are “ready to handle the crisis and join the doctors and nurses already working in the healthcare system,” Gozal said. “For every 20 soldiers there is one or two paramedics. … Our army is [ready to handle this crisis].”
The general said the IDF has hundreds of thousands of soldiers ready at any time to help in an emergency “and this is definitely a time of emergency.”
“Fighting coronavirus might be a different type of war but it must be treated as a war,” he added
Gozal said that democratic countries all over the world are calling on their militaries to help during this crisis and Israel will most likely do the same.
“We have a system within the public system called the IDF,” he said. “[The military] know[s] best how to control the virus and how to solve it better. The Ministry of Health should give all of the instructions and the IDF should execute those dictates.”
Gozal said the Ministry of Defense has offered the services of the army to the government. “Yes, the IDF must protect Israel’s borders as always but we are ready, willing and organized to combat coronavirus as well. I think the best way to control coronavirus within Israel is to order the IDF to handle it. Sooner or later this is going to happen and will be for the best.”
“Israel has a great, really well prepared army that should and will take this over,” he concluded.
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