37 Graduates Completed Class 52 at the National Security College
37 graduates completed their studies as part of Class 52 at the National Security College. The graduation ceremony was held yesterday (Wednesday) in the presence of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog; the Minister of Defense, Mr. Israel Katz; the Chief of the General Staff, LTG Eyal Zamir; the Commander of the Military Colleges, MG Nimrod Aloni; senior commanders; and the families of the graduates.
The graduates, from all corps of the IDF and its branches, as well as from other security and government bodies, are designated for senior command and management positions in the IDF, in other security agencies, and in government ministries.
The National Security College is a central and leading institution that trains and shapes the senior national security leadership of the State of Israel. The program at the college lasts approximately ten months and includes a master’s degree in political science from the University of Haifa.
During the training, the participants study Israel's national security challenges through meetings with policy and national security decision-makers. In addition, they take part in national security tours across the country and engage in simulations and case studies.
From the remarks of the President of the State of Israel, Mr. Isaac Herzog: "We are at a historic moment of opportunity. A formative moment for the entire region. Our deterrent military power and exceptional strategic capabilities were clearly demonstrated in this campaign - against the Iranian Ayatollah regime and its proxies. Our security forces – led by the IDF under your command, the Chief of the General Staff, and following the directives of the political echelon - headed by the Prime Minister and you, the Minister of Defense – have broken the Iranian ring of fire and severely damaged its plan to destroy us. A historic-scale opportunity has opened before us - 'the day after' - and we must begin to discuss it and act on it – especially regarding the war in Gaza. In order to enter this new phase, we must first and foremost act to bring the hostages home and create an exit strategy that will change the reality in Gaza, in the surrounding areas, and in the entire region.
This process includes normalization and diplomatic relations with more and more Arab countries in the region – from Syria and Lebanon to Saudi Arabia."
From the words of the Minister of Defense, Israel Katz: "More difficult and complex decisions still lie ahead. We are at a critical juncture for Israel's security and for shaping our future in the Middle East - we must not be complacent and must prepare properly for what lies ahead.
Our challenge is clear: to ensure that Iran can never again threaten our citizens. We must formulate an enforcement plan to prevent Iran from reestablishing the capabilities it had prior to the operation. The Iranians will try in every way to learn their lessons and recover their capabilities. The enemy is learning and preparing - and our challenge is to advance our own capabilities so that we are not caught by surprise.
The goal that has stood before us throughout the maneuver in the Gaza Strip is clear - to bring all the hostages home and to ensure that Hamas will no longer be present here. That goal has not changed even today, and we will not relent until we achieve it."
From the remarks of the Chief of the General Staff: “I have said in the past—even before October 7th—that given Israel’s unique conditions, the State must maintain wide margins of security and power, while preserving a critical mass of force structure, both in quantity and in quality.
I believe the lessons of this war sharpen that point even further:
We must strengthen our national resilience, significantly expand the circle of service, and ensure that the IDF stands strong, ready, and determined—on every front and at all times.
During Operation “Gideon’s Chariots”, we dealt a severe blow to Hamas’ governing and military capabilities—and thanks to the operational strength we demonstrated, the conditions were created to advance a deal for the return of hostages.
The IDF does not surrender to those who seek to weaken it. From various directions, the attacks and accusations against the morality of our actions are disgraceful. We operate solely based on professional and objective considerations, in pursuit of the war’s objectives and in accordance with the directives of the political level.
The success of the operation did not divert our attention from the operation in the Gaza Strip. The war being waged in the south is one of the most complex and difficult wars in Israel's history. Our soldiers are operating with courage, exceptional bravery, and sacrifice, facing a clear mission: to bring our hostages home and to defeat the enemy!
A real, effective strategy must draw its insights from all levels—from the female observer at the post, from the company commander, the battalion commander, the division commander, from external critiques, and up to the Chief of the General Staff.”
 |  |  |  |  |  |