ABSTRACT

The IDF offensive on the Syrian front is opening with the objective of crossing the 1967 cease-fire lines, deep into Syrian territory. Raful Eitan and Dan Laner’s army corps will break through, while Elad Peled’s corps will hold fast on the line. Chief of Staff Elazar goes to Eitan’s headquarters to hear details of the plan. This is David Elazar’s first opportunity since the outbreak of war to meet brigade commanders in the field. Till today, he only managed to visit the command war rooms. This meeting takes place on the front line, north of Nafah. The officers cluster in Raful’s armored personnel carrier. They are bleary-eyed and all sport a few days growth of beard. Ostensibly they have completed their job of pushing the Syrians back from Golan. Now, a new effort is demanded of them, and of their units that have already sustained hundreds of losses. It seems unfair, but there are no forces to relieve them. The IDF’s manpower reservoirs are limited and Israel is fighting on two fronts. Elazar explains this as best he can.