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Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901293
IDF Officer: Oct. 7 Changed How Israel Fights Its Enemies
(Jerusalem Post) Amir Bohbot - A middle-ranking IDF officer said, "the army is not the same army it was" on Oct. 7. "The way we look today at an emerging threat, our approach toward the enemy is different. Today, there is no such thing as no response." Against the backdrop of Oct. 7, the most central move made by the IDF with the political leadership's backing has been maneuvering deep inside enemy territory, establishing itself there and creating a broad security belt and strategic depth for the State of Israel. No more defense along the border line. "Today we believe in the threat, much more than we believed then." The lessons learned since Oct. 7 have brought about a revolution in the IDF's defense concept, one that abandons static positioning on Israeli soil in favor of operational dynamism. The IDF no longer relies only on a narrow contact line between the fence and the Israeli community, but clearly distinguishes between "security zones" - areas whose purpose is airtight protection of the communities and prevention of enemy infiltration - and "holding zones" - areas in enemy territory where a continuous operational presence of IDF soldiers is maintained to prevent infiltration and help enable a rapid transition to attack. Defense Minister Israel Katz has described a mindset shift, moving from passive defense that waits for an event to active defense designed to prevent the extreme scenario from materializing in the first place. In Katz's view, that is not going to change in the coming years and the IDF must adapt. In addition, response times of forces in the air, on land and sea have changed beyond recognition.