BICOM

Speaking at the annual military intelligence assessment, Israel’s head of Military Intelligence, Major General Aviv Kochavi yesterday said that Israel would encounter an “environment that is more unstable and Islamist” than in the past. He added that this strategic environment could lead to “flare-ups”.

“We predict that in the next year, will encounter a regional environment that is more unstable, tense and Islamist than in the past. An environment dealing with a series of crises – regional and domestic – which raises the threshold of sensitivity of all the players and may lead – even without advance planning – to flare-ups,” Kochavi said in his annual presentation to Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz and the IDF top brass.

The Intelligence Directorate’s annual report is intended to brief the IDF’s senior leadership on strategic and operational regional developments and to identify key regional threats and opportunities.

The assessment is a basis for both decision-makings at the national and military level, as well as for the IDF’s future operational plans. The report will now be presented to the government following its approval by the IDF General Staff.