FIDF Live

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Ruthie and Andy Weiser, Grandparents of sergeant First Class Roey Weiser, Z”L, a combat solider in Battalion 13 of the Golani Brigade, who was killed on October 7th, 2023, to talk about loss and the mixed emotions they and their family have experienced over the last 15 or so months. Andy explains the heroics of Roey, who defended his base, Erez, from Hamas terrorists for hours. He was ultimately overrun by Hamas after having run out of bullets. Roey and his comrades saved 12 soldiers. Roey was 21 years old. The loss beared a heavy burden upon Ruthie and Andy, who participate in a grandparents support group, where they share each other’s thoughts and experiences about loss, and explore the uniquely challenging role of being the parent of a parent of a fallen soldier. However, Ruthie explains, this isn’t a tragedy. Roey was doing his job, and Ruthie takes great pride in her grandson and what he did on that tragic day. 

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil discusses the story of Chanukah, contextualizing it within the current multi-front war, the power struggle in Syria, and the rapidly evolving Middle East. Steven gives a sweeping Jewish historical overview of the First and Second Temple eras and the region that is now Syria, all the way to modern history, elucidating the evolution of the Israeli Jewish population from its humble beginnings as an economically meager, to growing into a one of the most dynamic economies in the world, at the cutting edge of a wide array of disciplines. Steven explains that the seemingly miraculous events that have occurred over the last several months, with Lebanon, Syria and Iran, are analogous to the miracle of Chanukah, when the Maccabees defeated the mighty Syrian Greeks. Steven likens the young Jewish men and women in the IDF to the modern day Maccabees, who have sacrificed everything to destroy those threatening the lives of their fellow countrymen, and whose actions have liberated Syrians from Al Assad’s tyrannical murderous regime. 

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by FIDF National Director Maj. Gen. (Res.) Nadav Padan to discuss the seismic shifts that have occurred over the last week in the Middle East as a result of the fall of the Assad regime. Nadav explains that Syria has been fractured for years, split between Assad’s regime, Hezbollah, Kurds, Turks and other rebel and jihadist groups. The situation is very fragile. The IDF immediately implemented its plan to destroy chemical weapons storages and factories, airbases artillery and weapons stores, with the goals of keeping them out of the hands of the various groups jockeying for power. Nadav wonders aloud what Iran’s next move will be. One option could be for Iran to aggressively increase their efforts to develop a nuclear weapon, while another option could involve some kind of a negotiation with President Elect Donald Trump to ensure their own protection.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Amichai Stein, Political Correspondent for Kan 11 IPBC to discuss the hostage situation and a variety of other current challenges for Israel and the IDF. Amichai begins the discussion by pointing out the stark contrast between being a journalist in Israel and being a journalist in the US, and how dramatically his job has changed over the course of the last year. The question, Amichai explains, is what is the goal of Hamas, and what are they willing to walk away with at this juncture. Would they even consider a hostage deal after losing so much? Based on the presence of Hamas officials in Egypt indicating some kind of willingness to enter into negotiations, there is reason to believe that a hostage deal can be salvaged. Following the news about Long Island native Omer Neutra, Israel and the IDF is again going all in on retrieving the hostages. However, Amichai warns of the perils of giving up too much in exchange for the hostages, and setting Israel back to October 6th, 2023. Striking the balance between retrieving the hostages and progressing to a safer and improved security situation between Israel and Gaza is the challenge right now for the IDF and the Israeli government.  

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Eric Mandel, Founder and Director of the Middle East Political and Information Network (MEPIN) to discuss Eric’s analysis on the current war. Eric expresses cautious optimism in regards to the recently negotiated ceasefire in the north between Israel and Hezbollah. The optimism stems from Hezbollah’s motive to agree to the ceasefire, namely, the embarrassment and devastation they’ve weathered from the IDF and the Mossad taking out much of their fighting force and leadership. The cautiousness comes from Israel’s motives to agree to the ceasefire, namely, the exhaustion of the soldiers, many of whom have been away from their jobs and families for the better part of 400 days. Meanwhile, Eric has tried to explain to both US administrations during their campaigns that the war in Gaza is still far from over, with thousands of terrorists still remaining and with a stronghold on the population, despite being without leadership. Further, hundreds of miles of tunnels still remain. Eric has urged the administrations to focus on Iran, the “head of the octopus.” With their anti-missile weapons systems down following the recent IDF air force operation, now would be the opportunity to hit Iran’s nuclear weapons facilities. However, Eric doesn’t believe that such an operation, although prudent, as likely to occur.

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Israeli Olympic Gold Medalist Tommy Reuveny to discuss his experience being an Israeli olympian during the war, traveling the world as an Israeli Jewish athlete, and what it meant to him to be the only Israeli gold medalist in the 2024 olympics. Tommy explains that October 7th occurred shortly after the olympic trials. Tommy’s brother is a IDF soldier for an elite unit. He arrived on the scene in the morning of October 7th. After three days of anxiously waiting, Tommy got word that his brother was okay. While training was difficult for Tommy after the attack, the olympic committee urged him and the other Israeli olympians to go out and win a medal. The fear of a repeat of the Munich Olympics, coupled with whatsapp death threats and the desire to win a medal for his country in desperate need of victory, the pressure was immense. Tommy was even urged not to wear clothing that would identify him was a Jew or Israeli in public, or speak Hebrew in public. But the threats and the will to win for his country propelled Tommy’s competitive spirit, ultimately resulting in a runaway finish for the gold.

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Maj. Gen. (RES.) Nadav Padan to provide insight on Israel’s multi-front war. General Padan provides a brief update on the war in the south, which, as he explains, is in its final phases. While Hamas has already been neutralized, the IDF is now battling against small independent groups of terrorists, while working to locate and rescue the remaining hostages. The neutralization of Hamas perhaps renders the hostage scenario even more complex, as the small independent groups have nothing left to lose, other than their lives, with the hostages being the only thing keeping them alive. The IDF is also weathering drone and cruise missiles launched by the Houthis in Yemen, 100% of which they’ve intercepted. In the north, the IDF’s mission remains to take out Hezbollah leadership, while destroying their primary missile and launcher stores, which are stored in highly populated civilian areas, posing an additional challenge of evacuating those areas before destroying the structures where the missiles and launchers are located. However, due to the IDF’s success against Hezbollah, coupled with the mounting pressure felt by Iran following the looming change in the US government, a ceasefire agreement appears to be imminent. 

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FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Jonathan Schanzer to provide insight on Israel’s progress in their multi-front war. Jonathan explains that despite the daily rocket attacks from Hezbollah, the IDF has done a stellar job reducing their arsenal. With that being said, the north has sustained significant damage, and reconstruction will be required once the war ends. Further, Israel’s airstrike on Iran left Iran vulnerable and has now enabled Israel to return whenever they want and strike however they want moving forward. Jonathan provides on insight on the implications of the state of the war on the US’s involvement with regards to the twilight of Biden’s term. Jonathan believes that President Biden is now considering his legacy, and how he wants to leave the Middle East before his term is up. The current president is left with choices, such as releasing the weapons the US has withheld from Israel, or even authorizing another Israeli strike against Iran’s nuclear plants, which Jonathan points out as something to watch moving forward.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Maj. Gen. (RES.) Nadav Padan to provide insight on Israel’s multi-front war. Maj. Gen. Padan explains that Iran’s strategy is drag the war out as much as possible to create a war of attrition. Their goal is to break the spirit of the IDF and the Israeli people, and to increase pressure on the Israeli government to end the war. While both Hamas and Hezbollah will likely not be entirely eradicated, as they are both more akin to ideas than groups, their artillery and operational capacity has been devastated by the IDF. Israel’s goal is to put enough pressure on Iran to negotiate the best agreement possible. Until recently, Hezbollah refused to entertain a ceasefire agreement with Israel due to the damage inflicted by the Gaza Strip. Hezbollah has since changed its tune, and are now willing to entertain a ceasefire. When the momentum swings even more heavily in the IDF’s favor, they hope to be able to reach a favorable agreement with Hezbollah. 

Donate NOW at FIDF.org for the fastest and most direct way to give IDF Soldiers what they need most. 100% of your contribution will go to meet their emergency humanitarian needs.

FIDF CEO Steven Weil is joined by Brig. Gen. (Res.) Nitzan Nuriel, to discuss the current state of Israel’s multi-front war. Brig. Gen. Nuriel explains that the current mission in Gaza is to ensure that Hamas will not be able to regain power in the region. He believes that this mission is going to take a significant amount of time, barring a surrender of Hamas and reaching an agreement to release the hostages. The IDF’s primary goal in Lebanon is also to neutralize the threat of Hezbollah missile fire for good, and to prevent Hezbollah from regaining power in the region. The IDF is preparing for a potential threat along the Jordanian border, with Iran now setting its sights on mobilizing its shiite militias in Syria and Iraq as a result of Hezbollah being on the brink of annihilation and losing Hamas completely. Brig. Gen. Nuriel reminds us that, while Israel is winning the war, the IDF has weathered significant losses, primarily to their reserve corps.