IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi held a situation assessment with the General Staff forum where he addressed reports of sharp disagreements between him and the political echelon, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Halevi said that "the culture of disagreement is an inseparable part of the history of the people of Israel and constitutes a vital component in the organizational culture of the IDF." He added: "We will continue to express our position without fear in a factual, independent and professional manner. We are not dealing with theory but with matters of life and death and the defense of the state. Only its welfare and security are before our eyes."