TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - BG (Res.) Itai Brun - Air Force, Military Intelligence (part 1)
After Israel’s Air Force has revamped its Intelligence Division, following serious shortcomings in the 1973 war, some of the IDF’s best thinkers and planners came up through the ranks to senior Air Force Intelligence positions and then transitioned to broader capacities on the General Staff. Itai Brun moved up from Air Force Intelligence’s Chief of Research and Assessment to the same duty in the Directorate of Military Intelligence staff, reporting to the highest Cabinet and Defense authorities. Between the two jobs he revived a dormant IDF think tank whose primary mission was to prepare up-and-coming General Officers for operational and strategic responsibilities.
On Watchmen Talk Brigadier-General Brun, now in the Reserves, talks about the art and craft of Intelligence, the road from a raw report to a finished product, warning and surprise, the relationship between IDF Intelligence and various consumers - Chief of General Staff, Defense Minister, Prime Minister, Commanders - as well as with fellow organisations such as Mossad and SHABAK.
Brun, with theory based on practice and analysis, also distinguishes between various forms of problems, such as “mysteries” as distinct from “riddles” or mere “secrets”. Finally, he shares his view on the most painful of Intelligence failures in Israel’s history, the combined Egyptian-Syrian attack on Yom Kippur 1973, and whether the political, military and intelligence echelons are now immune from another such surprise.
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“I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, [which] shall never hold their peace day nor night” (Isaiah 62:6)
They are the men and women who have stood guard over Israel. When their countrymen slept, these Watchmen could be counted on to fight for Israel and its capital, Jerusalem, on its numerous fronts. Now, one by one, they are coming to TV7’s Jerusalem studio for in-depth interviews by TV7 Analyst and Host Amir Oren, a veteran observer of the Israeli - and global - defense and government scenes.
They will share their stories, insights and some revelations in a way sure to enlighten our viewers who are encouraged to keep these topics in prayer ~ Psalm 122.
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - BG (Res.) Itai Brun - Air Force, Military Intelligence (part 1)
After Israel’s Air Force has revamped its Intelligence Division, following serious shortcomings in the 1973 war, some of the IDF’s best thinkers and planners came up through the ranks to senior Air Force Intelligence positions and then transitioned to broader capacities on the General Staff. Itai Brun moved up from Air Force Intelligence’s Chief of…
TV7 Watchmen Talk - Admiral Rob Bauer, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee
“I am the boss of no-one,” jokes Admiral Rob Bauer of the Royal Netherlands Navy, Chairman of NATO’s Military Committee, on a visit to Israel in late September. Bauer, a likable 61-year-old who came to Brussels from heading the Dutch armed forces, is so popular among his 31 fellow Chiefs of Defense that they granted…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Amb. Carmi Gillon Former ISA (Shin Bet) Chief (Part 2)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with Amb. Carmi Gillon, former SHABAK Chief. Carmi Gillon was naturally delighted when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin appointed him Chief of Israel’s Internal Security Agency, aka SHABAK. The time was early 1995, some 20 years after Gillon, following a somewhat hazardous military service, joined this secret organisation…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Amb. Carmi Gillon Former ISA (Shin Bet) Chief (Part 1)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with Amb. Carmi Gillon, former SHABAK Chief. Carmi Gillon was naturally delighted when Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin appointed him Chief of Israel’s Internal Security Agency, aka SHABAK. The time was early 1995, some 20 years after Gillon, following a somewhat hazardous military service, joined this secret organisation…
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with BG Gvaram Haglili, IDF Chief Safety Officer Brigadier-General Gvaram Haglili serves in a unique position in the Israel Defense Forces. Haglili, a former Infantry leader who was wounded in training and then had to make do with staff slots, where he could bring to bear his…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - MG (Ret.) Dan Harel, Former Vice Chief of General Staff, IDF (part 2)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview (part 2) with MG (Ret.) Dan Harel, Former Vice Chief of General Staff, IDF In the Israel Defense Forces, rare is the combat officer who came up through the ranks to reach the rank of Major-General without leading troops in Infantry (preferably Paratroopers), Armor or Commando units.…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - MG (Ret.) Dan Harel, Former Vice Chief of General Staff, IDF (part 1)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview (part 1) with MG (Ret.) Dan Harel, Former Vice Chief of General Staff, IDF In the Israel Defense Forces, rare is the combat officer who came up through the ranks to reach the rank of Major-General without leading troops in Infantry (preferably Paratroopers), Armor or Commando units.…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - BG (Ret.) Arie Mizrachi Former Artillery Chief, IDF (part 2)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview (part 2) with BG (Ret.) Arie Mizrachi Former Artillery Chief, IDF. When Arie Mizrahi was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, as an ambitious teen-ager who wished to get his commission ASAP, he was told that the fastest route to a Second Lieutenant’s bar was in the…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - BG (Ret.) Arie Mizrachi Former Artillery Chief, IDF (part 1)
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview (part 1) with BG (Ret.) Arie Mizrachi Former Artillery Chief, IDF. When Arie Mizrahi was drafted into the Israel Defense Forces, as an ambitious teen-ager who wished to get his commission ASAP, he was told that the fastest route to a Second Lieutenant’s bar was in the…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Col. (Ret.) Dr. Eran Lerman, Former Senior Intelligence Officer
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with Dr. Lerman, the Co-host of TV7 Middle East Review, a Powers-in-Play Panelist, Vice President of the Jerusalem Institute for Strategy and Security, as well as the Editor in Chief of the Jerusalem Strategic Tribune. Dr. Lerman held several important posts in IDF Military Intelligence, including service…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Dr. Rafael Bardaji, Fmr. Spanish NSA
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with Dr. Rafael Luis Bardají López one of Spain’s foremost strategic thinkers and a former National Security Advisor. Indeed, he had a major role in setting up the National Security mechanism supporting the country’s Prime Minister and integrating staff work of the various military, diplomatic and intelligence…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Col. Richard Kemp CBE (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Colonel Richard Kemp, who formerly headed the international terrorism intelligence team of the British Cabinet Office. Discussion focuses on Col. Richard Kemp’s earned status as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), the highest award in recognition of service.…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Col. Richard Kemp CBE (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Colonel Richard Kemp, who formerly headed the international terrorism intelligence team of the British Cabinet Office. Discussion focuses on Col. Richard Kemp’s earned status as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), the highest award in recognition of service.…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Israeli Ambassador Danny Ayalon
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with Ambassador Ayalon, Co-host TV7 Middle East Review, Powers-in-Play Panelist, NYU Lecturer, former Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister and Ambassador to the United States. While Ambassador Ayalon is a regular on TV7News, this time he is here in his personal capacity as a Foreign Service officer turned Deputy…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Fmr. IDF Operations Chief, MG (Res.) Israel Ziv (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Major General (Res.) Major General Israel Ziv, who retired some years ago as a career officer but is on call for frequent advice to his younger brothers-in-arms. First and foremost a paratrooper from enlistment as a private soldier to running the infantry…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Former IDF Operations Chief, MG (Res.) Israel Ziv (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Major General (Res.) Major General Israel Ziv, who retired some years ago as a career officer but is on call for frequent advice to his younger brothers-in-arms. First and foremost a paratrooper from enlistment as a private soldier to running the infantry…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Fmr. NATO, EU Amb. Ronny Leshno-Yaar (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Israeli Ambassador Ronny Leshno-Yaar, who was appointed Jerusalem’s first envoy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while also serving as the nation’s representative at the European Union headquarters. Prior to his mission in Brussels, Leshno-Yaar built a distinguished career as a senior official…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Former NATO, EU Amb. Ronny Leshno-Yaar (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Israeli Ambassador Ronny Leshno-Yaar, who was appointed Jerusalem’s first envoy the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while also serving as the nation’s representative at the European Union headquarters. Prior to his mission in Brussels, Leshno-Yaar built a distinguished career as a senior official…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Fmr. IDF Ground Forces Head Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Guy Tzur (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with former IDF Ground Forces Head Major General (Reserves) Guy Tzur. Major General (Res.) Guy Tzur came up through the ranks of the IDF Armor Corps, commanding troops on all levels from platoon to division and directing the tanks’ doctrine department between command…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Fmr. IDF Ground Forces Head Maj.-Gen. (Res.) Guy Tzur (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with former IDF Ground Forces Head Major General (Reserves) Guy Tzur. Major General (Res.) Guy Tzur came up through the ranks of the IDF Armor Corps, commanding troops on all levels from platoon to division and directing the tanks’ doctrine department between command…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk –Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Golan (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with IDF Northern Cmdr.Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Golan. Following the high bar set by his father and brother during their national military performance, serving as a IDF Colonel and enlistment in the Paratroopers Brigade, respectively; Golan also went airborne to rise to the…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk –Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Golan (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with IDF Northern Cmdr. Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Yair Golan. Following the high bar set by his father and brother during their national military performance, serving as a IDF Colonel and enlistment in the Paratroopers Brigade, respectively; Golan also went airborne to rise to…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – USMC Gen. (Ret.) Frank McKenzie, Recently Retired U.S. CENTCOM Commander
Please join host Amir Oren for an interview with United States Marine Corps Gen. (Ret.) Kenneth Franklin McKenzie, Jr., who recently retired from his position as the 14th commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which has purview over most Arab countries and Iran; as well as most recently Israel, where he was in close…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Ret.) Hezi Leder (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with with Law Enforcement Intelligence Expert, Brigadier General Hezi Leder. After beginning his career in the Israel Defense Forces, BG Leder served as a Signals intelligence (SIGINT) officer in both tactical and strategic missions, including during wartime operations. Later recruited by the Israel…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Ret.) Hezi Leder (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Law Enforcement Intelligence Expert, Brigadier General Hezi Leder. After beginning his career in the Israel Defense Forces, BG Leder served as a Signals intelligence (SIGINT) officer in both tactical and strategic missions, including during wartime operations. Later recruited by the Israel National…
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Ret.) Yom-Tov Tamir. Our guest is a member of the Israel Defense Forces’ generation of most experienced armor combat officers, who between 1967 and 1982 took part in multiple wars, campaigns and battles. He commanded troops in combat on all…
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Ret.) Yom-Tov Tamir. Our guest is a member of the Israel Defense Forces’ generation of most experienced armor combat officers, who between 1967 and 1982 took part in multiple wars, campaigns and battles. He commanded troops in combat on all…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Ephraim Lapid, former IDF Spokesman (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Ephraim Lapid, who has spent decades on several sides of the quest for defense information. His early career brought him up the ranks of the IDF Intelligence Corps on collection and production assignments. Lapid was appointed to senior…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Ephraim Lapid, Former IDF Spokesman (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Dr. Ephraim Lapid, who has spent decades on several sides of the quest for defense information. His early career brought him up the ranks of the IDF Intelligence Corps on collection and production assignments. Lapid was appointed to senior…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Reuven Merhav, former Mossad, ISA Agent (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Amb. Reuven Merhav. Merhav has literally been all over the world on behalf of the Israeli government, serving in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and Hong Kong, having the unique experience of seeing half-dozen national security organizations from within. As a soldier, he fought…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Reuven Merhav, former Mossad, ISA Agent (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Amb. Reuven Merhav. Merhav has literally been all over the world on behalf of the Israeli government, serving in Ethiopia, Kenya, Lebanon and Hong Kong, having the unique experience of seeing half-dozen national security organizations from within. As a soldier, he fought…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Itzhak Levanon, Fmr. Israeli Envoy to Egypt (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with distinguished Israeli diplomat Itzhak “Izik” Levanon. Born in Beirut to the Cohen family, he decided to adopt a more Israeli name after immigrating to Israel. He naturally chose “Levanon,” which is the Hebrew version of Lebanon. Levanon came to Israel following the…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Itzhak Levanon, Fmr. Israeli Envoy to Egypt (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with distinguished Israeli diplomat Itzhak “Izik” Levanon. Born in Beirut to the Cohen family, he decided to adopt a more Israeli name after immigrating to Israel. He naturally chose “Levanon,” which is the Hebrew version of Lebanon. Levanon came to Israel following the…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Ret.) Amnon Sofrin, Former Mossad Chief of Intelligence (Part III)
Please join host Amir Oren for the third of a three-part interview with Amnon Sofrin, who started his military career as an infantryman, taking part in some of the fiercest fighting during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. After suffering battle wounds, he shifted to the Intelligence Corps where he rose through the ranks to serve…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Ret.) Amnon Sofrin, Former Mossad Chief of Intelligence (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a three-part interview with Amnon Sofrin, who started his military career as an infantryman, taking part in some of the fiercest fighting during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. After suffering battle wounds, he shifted to the Intelligence Corps where he rose through the ranks to serve…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Ret.) Amnon Sofrin, Former Mossad Chief of Intelligence (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for first of a three-part interview with Amnon Sofrin, who started his military career as an infantryman, taking part in some of the fiercest fighting during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. After suffering battle wounds, he shifted to the Intelligence Corps where he rose through the ranks to serve in…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Ron Prosor, former Foreign Ministry Director General (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Ambassador Ron Posor. Career Foreign Service officer Ron Prosor is returning to a diplomatic post as Israeli Ambassador to Germany after working in the private sector for several years.. He previously served in the coveted assignments as Jerusalem’s Ambassador to London and…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Amb. Ron Prosor, former Foreign Ministry Director General (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Ambassador Ron Posor. Career Foreign Service officer Ron Prosor is returning to a diplomatic post as Israeli Ambassador to Germany after working in the private sector for several years.. He previously served in the coveted assignments as Jerusalem’s Ambassador to London and…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – Brig. Gen. (Res.) Hanan Gefen, former Unit 8200 Chief
The Israel Defense Forces produced several excellent organizations, perhaps most notably the Air Force, Paratroopers, Armor and Special Force. Lately, in light of its much-lauded record, one unit of the Military Intelligence Corps has gained particular prominence: Unit 8200, Israel’s National Security Agency (or Government Communications Headquarters) and Cyber Command. Please join host Amir Oren…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Res.) Doron Gavish, Air Defense Chief (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Res.) Doron Gavish. The Israeli Air Force is a world leader due to several factors, particularly the constant threat of actual attack from Lebanon and Gaza, as well as potentially from Iran and territories under its control. As one of…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Res.) Doron Gavish, IDF Air Defense Chief (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Res.) Doron Gavish. The Israeli Air Force is a world leader due to several factors, particularly the constant threat of actual attack from Lebanon and Gaza, as well as potentially from Iran and territories under its control. As one of…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Res.) Yuval Bazak, Commands and Concepts (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Res.) Yuval Bazak, who served as an Infantry officer in the Golani Brigades and other command positions in the Israel Defense Forces for more than 30 years. While leading Israeli troops from platoon to brigade levels, he conducted counter-terror campaigns…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk – BG (Res.) Yuval Bazak, Commands and Concepts (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with Brigadier General (Res.) Yuval Bazak, who served as an Infantry officer in the Golani Brigades and other command positions in the Israel Defense Forces for more than 30 years. While leading Israeli troops from platoon to brigade levels, he conducted counter-terror campaigns…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Maj. Gen. (Res) Mickey Edelstein -Fmr IDF Attaché to Washington (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a two-part interview with IDF Maj. Gen. (Res.) Mickey Edelstein. Maj. Gen. Edelstein recently officially retired as a career officer, although he is still often called up for active reserve duty. The creative and thoughtful former Infantry, Paratrooper and Commando leader. His command as high as…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Maj. Gen. (Res) Mickey Edelstein - Fmr IDF Attaché to Washington (Part I)
Please join host Amir Oren for the first of a two-part interview with IDF Maj. Gen. (Res.) Mickey Edelstein. Maj. Gen. Edelstein recently officially retired as a career officer, although he is still often called up for active reserve duty. The creative and thoughtful former Infantry, Paratrooper and Commando leader. His command as high as…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Former MK and IDF Commander Major General (Ret.) David Tzur (Part III)
Please join host Amir Oren for the third of a three-part interview with former Knesset Member and IDF Commander DR Maj. Gen. Ret.) David Tzur. David “Tzuri” Tzur began his military career as a Paratrooper, during which he participated in many raids. He later joined and ultimately commanded the Coastal Plain District Police and Israel's…
TV7 Israel Watchmen Talk - Former MK and IDF Commander Major General (Ret.) David Tzur (Part II)
Please join host Amir Oren for the second of a three-part interview with former Knesset Member and IDF Commander DR Maj. Gen. Ret.) David Tzur. David “Tzuri” Tzur began his military career as a Paratrooper, during which he participated in many raids. He later joined and ultimately commanded the Coastal Plain District Police and Israel's…
