In recent weeks, as the headlines have drifted elsewhere, tensions along the northern have not. For more than four months, the IDF has been on a high alert in the Lebanon sector, bracing for a terrorist attack promised by Hezbollah. Twice the terrorist organization tried hitting targets in Israel to avenge the death of its operative at Damascus airport last July. The first time, a squad of Hezbollah terrorists approached the perimeter of Gladiola outpost on Har Dov, and fled after being exposed. The second time, a Hezbollah sniper tried shooting Israeli soldiers near Manara, but missed.
"I wouldn't advise [Hezbollah leader Hassan] Nasrallah to test us again, because our response will be disproportionate to what he estimates will happen," warns Brig. Gen. Shlomi Binder, commander of the IDF Northern Command's Galilee Division, in an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom. "We are well prepared, even for a situation where we'll have to fight for several days. Hezbollah will pay a steep price for it."
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Binder has had very little time off lately, working most weekends. He's shuttled between the units and forces on the ground to ensure everyone is ready, personally approving all military activity and every operation. He's had to exhaust all the operational cunning garnered as a long-time commando in Sayeret Matkal to predict Hezbollah's next move and counter it, and at the same time – prepare the IDF response if such an attack succeeds.
Last weekend, too, Binder was on base. Between speaking with his troops and visiting a new training facility in his sector, he found time for an interview – his first in all his years in the military. "I prefer speaking less," he explains with a smile.
Binder, 45, is married to Yael and is a father of three3. He lives on a moshav on the Golan Heights. He was spent his entire mandatory service in Sayeret Matkal, the Military Intelligence Directorate's clandestine counterterrorism and intelligence gathering unit. Before he was appointed to command his original unit, he also commanded Egoz, whose missions involve counter-guerrilla warfare. This is where he decided to spend the rest of his military career in the "big army," rather than military intelligence.
During his tenure as commander of Sayeret Matkal, the unit received two citations: for its role in detecting underground attack tunnels during Operation Protective Edge, and for other missions carried out in its aftermath. After completing his three-year command of Sayeret Matkal, he was tapped to lead the Golani Brigade. From there he went on to study in Washington and then returned to Israel a year and a half ago as commander of the Galilee Division.
A reorganization of the sector
He is very level-headed and calculated. He speaks quietly, cautious with his words. As stated, this is his first interview, and he's worth listening to. Binder isn't only one of the IDF's most exceptional field commanders; he is also one of its wisest. In speaking with him, one gets the impression that at this sensitive time, the volatile sector opposite Hezbollah is in safe hands.
Binder believes the current tension with Hezbollah isn't related to the killing of the organization's operative four months ago. Hezbollah is carrying the weight of a long line of unfortunate events from its perspective from the past six years. From the assassinations of Imad Mughniyeh and Samir Kuntar, to its inability to exact a price for the death of its people in Syria, to the discovery and destruction of the terror tunnels it dug into Israel. "This was a tough blow from its perspective," says Binder. "It's extremely disconcerting when one of your strategic projects is exposed, which cost you millions of dollars."
Q: Has Nasrallah abandoned the idea?
"He has stopped. We continue to monitor at all times. At the moment we're unaware of any new tunnels. But this doesn't mean they've given up on the idea. For now, they've taken a break to stop and calculate a new course."
Q: The tunnels were supposed to provide them the element of surprise. In their view, do they have an alternative?
"Just because you can't infiltrate [Israel] underground doesn't mean you can't infiltrate above ground. There's no impenetrable barrier here that can't be crossed. They intend their attack to be on land, as they've done on many occasions in Syria. We are preparing ourselves for that."
Q: But what does Nasrallah want to achieve?
"Two main things: disturb our own offensive and seize land. Our job in the Galilee Division is to ensure that vital land, primarily communities, don't fall into Hezbollah's hands."
This is a complex challenge. In many segments of the border area, Hezbollah enjoys a clear topographical advantage. It's doubtful the existing barrier can prevent the organization from seizing one of the 22 border-adjacent communities or one of the IDF outposts originally built to counter the Palestinian terror threat from the 1970s – but are not suitable for repelling an advancing Hezbollah guerilla army.
"The way to prevent this," says Binder, "is by reorganizing the sector, and by incorporating every type of firepower. The attacker's advantage is obvious, but the defender also has an advantage: He can prepare surprises and use subterfuge, and we are utilizing every minute to do exactly that. Hezbollah will encounter a lot of surprises here in relation to its plans, and this will allow us to destroy it more effectively."
As part of this defensive effort, the IDF in recent years has been constructing walls in several areas, intended to hinder infiltration into Israeli territory along with artillery fire from Lebanese territory. Such a wall has already been erected near Rosh Hanikra, and between Misgav Am and Metula. Binder insists on calling these walls "sophisticated barriers" and says they "provide a nice, albeit partial, response."
Q: If you could, would you build such a wall along the entire border?
"I'd build the barrier in a compatible manner. Some of it out of cement, some from other materials, with advanced technology. But certainly, if there were no budgetary problems I'd do that."
In a war, he says, the IDF will want to evacuate the residents of the border-adjacent communities, a matter that is under constant discussion with the local civilian defense liaisons, with whom, Binder says, relations are positive and professional. "There's no reason for them to be here, and whoever stays will be part of the civilian defense contingent protecting the communities."
This won't be a walk in the park
Hezbollah, says Binder, doesn't want a war. It wants to "rearrange the equation," meaning it wants it to be clear that for every one of its operatives killed by Israel – in Lebanon or Syria – an IDF soldier will be killed. The goal: to deter the IDF and hamper its activities in the northern sector. "I want to be clear on this matter," Binder stresses, "we don't operate according to Hezbollah's equations."
Q: Meaning?
"We will do what suits us at that given moment. I always want to be two steps ahead of Hezbollah. It's not a matter of if he does something to me, I'll do the exact thing back. The Manara incident also illustrated this point: They shot two bullets at an IDF force, missed the target, and in response, we launched 180 mortars into Lebanese territory and destroyed two observation outposts."
Q: In other words, if heaven forbid one of our soldiers is killed, the response will correspond?
"I have no intention of delving into our plans, but I think if that were to happen, Hezbollah would discover it made a very big mistake. Our level of battle-readiness is extremely high today, and we are willing to take risks on this basis because we are not willing to live according to Hezbollah's equation."
Q: Meaning Hezbollah insists on maintaining this equation and you insist on not maintaining it.
"I insist on not engaging with Hezbollah in a dialogue about equations. My job is not to be stagnant, and to be ready for any development."
Since the Manara incident, Hezbollah has not attempted any further action against IDF soldiers. Considering the number of troops in the sector, we can assume it had opportunities to act. Binder believes this partially stems from the "scattered surprises" the IDF is continuously devising, which are disruptive to Hezbollah's situational picture but also stems from the terrorist organization's fear of stepping into an undesired escalation. Still, however, Binder cautions that "from Hezbollah's perspective, it isn't over. It is seeking its revenge and it's my job to prevent it, but also to prepare our response if it does happen because things can always go wrong."
Q: And if you find yourself in a protracted battle with Hezbollah, what would you like to accomplish?
"Without getting into objectives, I'll answer with one sentence: That next time, Hezbollah will think long and hard before acting again."
In Binder's view, Hezbollah's conduct these past few months reconfirms it is a rational actor. The fact that it hasn't acted impulsively indicates the existence of situational assessments and that it weighs a broad array of considerations – such as the economic situation in Lebanon, which is on the brink of insolvency, and the coronavirus pandemic (last week, 2,000 new cases were confirmed in a 24-hour period).
Lebanon's negotiations with Israel over the countries' maritime border are also a consideration for Hezbollah, because they represent an extraordinary opportunity for Lebanon to extract the billions of natural gas dollars laying at the bottom of the sea. "I think there's a willingness by both sides to settle this issue, but it's an opportunity that can easily be squandered if Hezbollah decides to fan the flames over here."
Q: There's been quite a bit of criticism in recent years over the IDF's readiness for war. Are you satisfied?
"I think we've improved. That doesn't mean there's nothing left to do. I'm satisfied with the level of commitment, with the professionalism, but these are things that require ongoing attention. The tensions of the past few months are the best catalyst for battle readiness one can ask for because over this time the forces have dramatically improved, all my reservists have come through here, all the battle stations are operational, functioning, and trained, we've conducted a lot of simulations."
Q: It sounds like you want to stay on this high alert forever.
"For a division, operational friction is a good thing."
Q: Do you see improvement on the other side as well?
"Of course I see improvement. We are in a fight, and they are also learning from mistakes and trying to get better. They don't do the same thing. Our biggest challenge is to try and understand their improvement process, and to provide a response to that. It's a never-ending race. A fight of who learns quicker."
Q: Maybe the Iranians are pushing Hezbollah into a corner?
"The Iranians are very influential over what happens in our space, in both Syria and Lebanon. They certainly aren't an element of restraint, and in Lebanon, only Hezbollah is capable of restraining Hezbollah. The Iranians don't care about Lebanon."
Binder himself served in Lebanon as a young team leader in Sayeret Matkal. He carried out numerous special missions there and later on as well as commander of Egoz, and now – as commander of the Galilee Division. His higher-ups recently decided to keep him in that role for an additional third year. He was offered command of the special operations division in the Military Intelligence Directorate but declined.
"I'm in the most interesting place in my opinion, in a position to observe, learn and come into contact with the most significant enemy facing the IDF today," he says. "I enjoy the job very much and feel I can make a difference. Two years isn't enough."
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