Israel - November 12, 2025 IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visited the joint division exercise conducted by the Judea and Samaria Division and the 96th “Gilead” Formation, accompanied by Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Blot, Judea and Samaria Division Commander Brig. Gen. Kobi Heller, 96th Division Commander Brig. Gen. Oren Simcha, Ground Training Center Commander Brig. Gen. Eliad Moati, and additional senior officers. During the visit, the Chief of Staff held operational assessments with commanders in the field and emphasized the importance of operational readiness in the sector. He noted that the exercise, the first of its kind in the IDF, includes the newly established Eastern Division—created as part of lessons learned from the recent war—evaluated for the first time as a full division. Lt. Gen. Halevi stressed that one of the key lessons from October 7 is the need to neutralize threats at an early stage and prevent their development. He stated that the scenarios practiced in recent days represent situations the IDF must avoid by acting proactively and reinforcing forces where necessary to prevent future threats. Addressing recent incidents of violence involving Israeli civilians, he strongly condemned the actions, emphasizing that such behavior contradicts IDF values and distracts forces from their mission of defending communities and combating terrorism. He affirmed that the IDF is committed to addressing the issue with severity. Halevi reiterated the IDF’s commitment to protecting residents in the area, highlighting the importance of the local communities and their role in Israel’s security. He concluded by reaffirming the guiding principle: “Terror meets the army; civilians live their daily lives. We are the defensive barrier between terrorist organizations and the citizens of Israel.”