IDF Chief Of Staff Lieutenant General Herzi Halevi Vows Eternal Vigilance During State Memorial Ceremony

IDF Chief Herzi Halevi links biblical heroism to October 7 valor, vowing to maintain national cohesion and recover all captives in a historic memorial address.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 1:42 PM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Channel 12

The Living Documents Of The Western Wall

The Chief of Staff began his address by reflecting on the profound symbolism of the Western Wall, describing the stones as more than mere physical structures. He cited historian Joseph Klausner, noting that "these stones are more than stones: they are living documents of what was; they hold the hope of what will be." According to Halevi, these ancient fortifications have stood as witnesses to thousands of years of Jewish heroism, echoing the memory of the fallen whenever the national siren sounds. He framed the presence of the military and the bereaved families at the site as "nothing more than a chapter in an ancient story, a living link in the chain of generations" that continues to be written in the modern era.

Biblical Roots And The Command To Defend

Halevi connected the current conflict to a foundational promise, stating that every generation has set out to pave a path for the future following the biblical assurance, "to your seed I will give this land." He traced the lineage of military leadership from King David’s conquest of Jerusalem through a water pipe to Judah Maccabee’s victories in the Ayalon Valley. "Judah Maccabee walked the paths paved by our forefather Abraham, and learned the legacy of the battles of King David," Halevi remarked, asserting that this historical context is what beats in the hearts of fighters today. He argued that the right to put down roots in the land has always required a struggle for fulfillment and peace, a mission the IDF continues to execute.

Valor In The Gaza Trenches

Moving to modern history, Halevi recounted the 1967 heroism of Lieutenant Yoram Elyashiv at Ammunition Hill, whom fighters described as "a leader you can follow with your eyes closed." He then drew a direct parallel to the events of October 7, specifically the actions of "Team Peretz." He noted that Captain Daniel Peretz and his crew—Itay Chen, Tomer Leibowitz, and Matan Angrest—acted without waiting for orders as the last line of defense. According to Halevi, "the battle of Team Peretz is studied today in the IDF's recruit bases," serving as a symbol for a generation that responded without hesitation to the command to stand between civilians and their attackers.