Israel Matzav

Revealed: Hundreds of IDF soldiers die because government worried what the world would think

Over the last few days, we've been getting a stream of revelations about government deliberations during the run-up and first couple of devastating days of the Yom Kippur War. They reflect a government that was more concerned with what the 'international community' would think than with saving Jewish lives.

Protocols from a meeting only six hours before the Yom Kippur War broke out show that the government discussed launching a pre-emptive strike on the Arab countries, and debated whether or not to call in reservists before Egypt or Syria attacks.

"A pre-emptive attack is a huge advantage," IDF Chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. David Elazar said. "It will save a lot of lives. If we get into a war where the first stage is to block - and I am sure that we can do this - then after the attack, there will be a serious war." He added that he would be able to destroy the entire Syrian air force at noon of that day, and get rid of their missiles within 30 hours.

Elazar gave then-prime minister Golda Meir, defense minister Moshe Dayan, and head of intelligence Maj.-Gen. Eli Zaira four hours to talk to the US and make a decision.

Dayan, however, spoke out against Elazar's plan. "We can not allow ourselves to attack pre-emptively this time. If Egypt attacks, we can attack Syria. According to what I know, there can't be a pre-emptive strike. Not even five minutes before. Impossible."

Elazar also said that the IDF should call in some of its reserve soldiers. "If they attack in 10 hours, we are as ready as possible with regular soldiers, but we did not call up any reserves at all. The IDF's power is 25 percent regular and 75% reserves. Therefore, we need to increase our power immediately. We need at least 24 hours to call up reserves - those that are called up now, can be put into action tomorrow."

Dayan, however, said that he thinks "Israel will be packed and the streets will be full, etc. I believe that we can call up the reservists tomorrow. This isn't like 1967 - the war will start in the Suez and the Golan. It's important that [the world] doesn't say we started."

"Calling up all reservists before even one bullet was shot - everyone will say we were the attackers," Dayan explained.

The failure to call up reserves is often cited as one of the IDF's major mistakes in the Yom Kippur War.

In 1967, it was Elazar who agitated for taking the Golan. Dayan was opposed. And it was Dayan who, in 1967, begged the Arabs of Hebron and Jerusalem not to leave. Unfortunately, Dayan's legacy seems to have won out.

Read the whole thing.

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 10:38 PM