JERUSALEM (JTA) — Israel’s military held a conference to review the lessons learned from Operation Cast Lead.
The commanders of the operational units of the Israel Defense Forces met Monday at Glilot Base for the conference on its military offensive in Gaza late last year, called by IDF Chief of the General Staff, Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi, according to the IDF spokesman.
Brig. Gen. Eyal Eisenberg, the head of the Gaza Regional Division, briefed the conference on the various stages of the operation and the conclusions derived from the investigations conducted in his division and in the Southern Command.
After the general findings were presented, participants noted the operational investigations conducted within their units. The participants also emphasized the need to continue studying the operation in order to identify weaknesses and to strengthen the operational advantages discovered during the operation, and implement them during training for future military operations.
Conference participants included senior members of the General Staff, division and commanders, heads of various IDF corps, battalion commanders and their counterparts in the air and naval forces.
"Each and every one of us is required to convert the statements made into actual work plans and to implement them in our units," Ashkenazi said at the conclusion of the meeting. "This is the forum that takes upon itself the operational missions of the IDF in any situation. The enemy learns lessons; it sees the actions we have taken and is constantly working towards narrowing the gap between us. Our preparations for an operation are a central part of achieving victory."
He added, "The process of implementing the findings of Operation Cast Lead’s investigations must continue in the daily routine of the IDF while training and preparing for war."
