An Interview About the Conflict with a Retired Israeli Brigadier-General

Foreign Policy Brief #109 | By: Ester Avisror | December 28, 2023

Photo: Our reporter, Ester Avisror, and retired IDF Brigadier-General Arie Tsidon seated across from each other.

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Retired Brigadier-General of the Israel Defense Forces, Arie Tsidon, was a prominent Senior Commander of Charuv and of Paratroopers Patrols, and served in the IDF for 25 years. Recently, I had the chance for an up-close and personal interview with him about some of his views on the war with Hamas.

The following are some highlights from Ester’s interview with retired Israeli soldier Arie Tsidon. All answers are purely opinion, based on his own experiences, and have been formatted to account for clarity and length.

Q: What are your views of the conflict? A: “This is not a simple answer because the matter is very complicated. I grew up in Haifa where many Arabs live, and my attitude towards them was acceptance. It doesn’t matter where they come from, they live in a very similar culture. My opinion is that whoever is a human, we have to treat them as one, and whoever wants to fight you, needs to be killed. On the 7th of October, the Old Soldier awakened in me, and I was horrified by all these brutal murders and inhuman acts on children, women, and the elderly, and now, we must take care of the situation in the toughest manner possible.”

Q: Is the goal of elimination of Hamas attainable? A: “I am not sure; because an absolute solution for the Arabs is what Asad did with Syria: You have gunshots with your opposition, you kill everyone, and those not killed become refugees in America,  Europe, Canada, etc.; the city becomes empty.  We are not fit to do such things because in Gaza, we do not want all civilians killed and nothing to be there. Also, I am not sure it is attainable because Hamas started as a charity organization in Gaza – opening schools, clinics, and cared for food and the human side of the poor society which is stuck there. Building this infrastructure helped Hamas purchase the audience of this region.  Hamas also bought its audience against the corruption of Fatah politicians (Fatah is the ruling political party in the West Bank) who took all the money to their accounts in many places.  As a result, Hamas has a place in many civilians hearts.”

Q: If the goal is attainable, then how, and how long will it take? A: “Although it is difficult to fight in Gaza, with underground tunnels with a million exits,  the IDF has developed and built an advanced and more suitable fighting method focused on the use of armored tanks. Today the IDF also is shutting, bombing, or blocking all tunnels with materials like cement and others. This could take  half a year or more to complete.”

Q: How will Gaza rebuild and be governed once the fighting is over?  A: “We need to sit, perhaps with the help of United States, and some European Countries, together with Egypt, King of Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the Emirates  and tell them — see at the end of things, what the terrorism does to civilians  disturbs you too, not just us. An Association of these countries needs to be established to help rebuild and manage Gaza.”

Check out usrenewnews.org/israel-hamas for more coverage, differing views and analysis of this conflict. Get the latest updates from our reporters by subscribing to the U.S. Resist Democracy Weekly Newsletter, and please consider contributing to Keeping Democracy Alive by donating today! We depend on support from readers like you.