Military and strategic expert, Major General Fayez Al-Duwairi, believes that in order to liberate Palestine, one must engage in a long preparation phase that will last for years, coinciding with the beginning of building the soldier’s culture nationally, socially and cognitively, stressing that he does not believe in Israel’s right to exist in the Arab region.
Al-Duwairi’s statement came in response to the question, “What if he was entrusted with the mission of liberating Palestine?” – during the “Guest of Shuaib” program, which is broadcast on the “Tel Aviv Tribune 360” platform.
He added, “There must now be a project to liberate Palestine, not a peace project,” attributing this to the fact that the extreme Israeli right does not recognize the Palestinians’ right to exist.
If Jordan is subjected to aggression, Al-Duwairi says that if he is in a position of responsibility, “he must then manage the battle with the available capabilities and employ them in the best possible way.”
The military expert refused to answer the question, “What would be his reaction if he was running the Israeli army after the October 7, 2023 strike?”, saying that his starting point is different, and stems from a culture that has a moral, ethical, and religious heritage, and that the language of crime is not in his dictionary.
He pointed out that the occupation army committed all the atrocities in Gaza because the “Al-Aqsa Flood” was a blow to the core of the Israeli entity’s confidence in its army, stressing the need for Israel to recognize reality and that the solution is political, not military.
Regarding the escalating tension in the region, he believes that the United States and Iran do not want a large-scale war in the region, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is considered the most enthusiastic about it.
1967 war
Regarding the 1967 setback, the military expert said that it was a completely lost Arab war after Egypt lost the Sinai Peninsula, Jordan the West Bank and Jerusalem, while Syria lost the Golan Heights, noting that everyone began to know about the defeat on the second day of the war with the return of the soldiers.
He believes that the one who laid out the defense plans in this war is neither a military man nor a leader, and that he should be symbolically tried “even in his grave because of his military stupidity,” stressing that the Arab countries are still paying the price of the defeat until now.
He said that there is no similarity between the 1967 war and October 7, 2023, because the former was a regular war and military plans between Arab armies and Israel, while the “Al-Aqsa Flood” is considered an asymmetric war between a Western-backed army and “besieged fighting groups that have the will to fight a battle no matter the human cost.”
He touched on the Iraq-Iran war, noting that Tehran relied on numerical strength, conventional warfare, and human density in battles, before Iran began developing its missile capabilities and drones with the expansion of the Revolutionary Guard and the Quds Force.
Al-Duwairi’s upbringing and education
Al-Duwairi referred to his hometown of Katam – one of the villages of Bani Ubaid in the Jordanian governorate of Irbid – and said that his family – consisting of 4 brothers and 3 sisters – worked in agriculture and livestock breeding, and most of their spending was from household income.
He revealed that his mother always encouraged him to study, so her death from cancer was an incentive, stressing that his mother’s dream played a major role in building his personality and his academic and military ambitions.
He pointed out that his ambition was to join the university, where he achieved a grade that was considered high at the time, revealing that he was accepted into the accounting major, but he considered joining the military college as an alternative option due to the financial burdens.
According to Al-Duwairi, the military college system was strict, refining character and creating men, but he criticized the recruitment of those with low grades into the army, stressing the importance of the army taking the elite and the cream of the crop.
Regarding his trip to Yemen, Al-Duwairi said that it happened when he was 24 years old and was a reward for his diligence in the operations and intelligence department. His mission was to remove mines on the border between Jordan and Syria, noting that his work in Yemen was to complete the plan to build military fortifications in Bab al-Mandab.
He revealed that after his military retirement, he received tempting offers from Gulf countries (Bahrain, the Emirates, Kuwait, and Oman) to establish command, staff, and defense colleges, but he rejected them and preferred to complete his dream of obtaining a doctorate and teaching at universities.
Abilities and differences
The strategic expert believes that the Arab officer is better than his British and American counterparts, as the former possesses better capabilities as an officer moving towards military horizons, but the gap is gradually narrowing with the increase in the knowledge base of the British and American, which gives the latter superiority over time.
He stressed the need for Arab military institutions to sponsor distinguished individuals and put the right man in the right place, while granting positions to people based on competence and not other considerations.
Regarding his distinction in the world of strategic analysis, Al-Duwairi stressed the necessity of having a broad knowledge base and the existence of solid, fixed principles that are consistent with reality, in addition to the importance of forward-looking readings.
He said that he was confident when he was involved in military work, and he was strong in his argument and able to say “no” to his boss, revealing that he was strict in his dealings and imposed the maximum penalties while taking into account the human dimension when he tried the wrongdoers.
To watch the full episode, please click on this link on the Tel Aviv Tribune 360 platform.