The retirement ceremony for the head of the Intelligence Division, Major General Aharon Haliva, was held at Camp Glilot this evening (Wednesday) - and Major General Shlomi Binder will take his place.
During the exchange ceremony, the failed head of the Intelligence Directorate spoke out for the first time since the outbreak of the war. Haliva resigned 4 months ago, and was the first senior IDF official to announce his resignation following the October 7th debacle.
""October 7, that bitter and black day, I carry on my conscience day and night and will carry until the end of my days," said Haliva. "Responsibility for success and responsibility for failure rests on my shoulders.".
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He added: "On that Sabbath, we failed in the most important task to which we are entrusted - which is to warn of war. The enormous responsibility for the failure of the Intelligence Directorate lies with me. Taking responsibility as educators should be expressed in actions - not in words. My decision to retire is the desired norm.".
He said, "For many hundreds of hours we were determined to conduct an investigation as part of our professional commitment, to learning, to correction and to improvement. The correction we made allows the IDF to deal with the enormous challenges that still lie ahead.".
""Even these days, achieving the goals of the war are before our eyes, foremost among them the return of the kidnapped and the overthrow of Hamas. Even in these hours, we are faced with threats both near and far, and the possibility of the campaign expanding is still on the agenda.".
Haliva called for the establishment of a state investigation committee, and said that the Intelligence Division would investigate the failures that occurred on his watch: "In recent weeks, the Intelligence Division has conducted a deep and incisive investigation of the reasons that led us to October 7. It would be right for a state investigation conference to also be established, in order to investigate all the reasons and factors that led to the war, and to do everything possible to ensure that what happened to us does not happen again.".
At the end of his speech, he thanked his family and said, choking back tears: "Everything I did, I did for you.".
He mentioned his fallen subordinates and said: "In my name and on behalf of the entire Intelligence Division, I want to ask for forgiveness. Forgiveness will not bring back the loved ones - but it must be said.".
At the end of his speech, Haliva handed over the Intelligence Division flag to his successor, Binder.
At the beginning of his remarks, the incoming head of the Military Intelligence Directorate, Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder, addressed the bereaved families and expressed his sorrow in light of the painful reality they are facing. "Your loss is burned into me, into all of us. You are a reminder to me of the heavy responsibility that is placed upon me.".
""I accept command of the wing tonight with a sense of sacred reverence," said Binder. "The searing failure that the war began with and the unbearable price we paid will forever be etched in my bones.".
Binder concluded by saying that it is possible to change the difficult reality and "write the next chapter in our history." He added: "The path is not easy, but the task is great.".
Regarding the expansion of the war to the north, he emphasized that preparedness for an additional front there must be deepened, while building a strong intelligence infrastructure.
Binder took office despite a petition being filed with the High Court against the appointment.
