IDF chief scraps US visit as Gaza ceasefire stall, 'Post' learns

Yahoo

2 days ago

The Post learned that Zamir had conditioned his US departure on the establishment of a durable Gaza ceasefire.
Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir has canceled a high-level visit to the United States that was scheduled for Tuesday, deciding to remain in Israel while Gaza ceasefire talks are at an impasse, The Jerusalem Post has learned.
Zamir's trip was to include participation in Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla's retirement ceremony at US Central Command (CENTCOM) headquarters in Tampa, Florida, and a round of meetings in Washington with America's top defense and intelligence officials.
He was slated to hold a series of meetings with senior US defense officials in Washington—including at the Pentagon—and had also planned to meet representatives of Jewish organizations. Those scheduled to see him included the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the heads of US military intelligence and the CIA. In Washington, the sides were to discuss the lessons of Operation Rising Lion and ways to deepen operational coordination between the IDF and the US military going forward.
Kurilla, who has forged an unusually close working relationship with Zamir since Israel shifted into CENTCOM's area of responsibility in 2021, arrived in Israel early Friday for a final consultation tour before handing over command later this month.
Within hours of landing, the American four-star general made his first-ever visit to the Western Wall (Kotel) in Jerusalem's Old City. Guided by Western Wall Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz and Heritage Foundation director Mordechai (Suli) Eliav, Kurilla prayed for the well-being of IDF and US troops, for the safe return of the hostages, and for peace in both nations. He placed a note between the ancient stones and wrote in the guest book: 'Thank you for a fantastic visit to the Western Wall. May you find peace.'
Kurilla told his hosts that although this is his 40th trip to Israel, it was the first time he had visited Judaism's holiest site. 'My mother always told me that for supporting Israel, God would repay me,' he added, according to people present. The general also toured the new 'Gateway to Heaven' multimedia exhibit and the recently uncovered Second Temple–period excavations beneath the plaza.
The Post learned that Zamir had conditioned his US departure on the establishment of a durable Gaza ceasefire.
When that failed to materialize, and as public pressure mounted over the hostage crisis, he concluded that 'his place is here.' Canceling the trip conveys a dual message: acknowledging the strategic importance of face-to-face talks with Washington while demonstrating that moral and operational responsibilities outweigh even the most prestigious diplomatic itinerary.
During a tour of the Strip on Friday, Zamir told commanders that the IDF would 'continue to apply relentless pressure on Hamas until every one of our people comes home.' Families of captives have been staging near-daily protests outside government buildings; 50 hostages—alive and deceased—remain in Gaza.
Dialogue to continue
Although Zamir's Washington meetings will now be deferred, liaison officers from the IDF Planning Directorate and the Defense Ministry's Washington Mission will maintain staff-level talks in the interim. Kurilla's successor, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper, is expected to assume command later this month, and officials said a follow-up invitation for Zamir would likely be extended once conditions allow.