What Israel Defense Forces Capt. Dagan Cohen said at the Friedberg JCC in Oceanside

The Oceanside Jewish War Veterans Post 717 hosted a special event on Sunday morning at the Friedberg JCC, bringing together residents and veterans for a discussion led by Capt. Dagan Cohen of the Israel Defense Forces.

Cohen, a highly experienced reserve officer, offered a detailed and personal perspective on Israel’s current military and political challenges, including the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. More than 100 people gathered to hear Cohen’s thoughts on the evolving dynamics in the Middle East, among them local veterans, many of whom have deep connections with Israel, as well as members of Oceanside’s Jewish community.

“We asked him to come, and we spread it around to all the people that we know and all the different groups at the JCC, and then this is what we got,” post Commander John Robbins, who helped organize the event, said. “We got a big crowd, and I thought he did very well.”

The event included a kosher buffet breakfast, making for a warm and communal atmosphere in which attendees reflected on Israel’s history, and the difficult realities of the region today.

Cohen, 35, is a senior emissary, or shaliach, for the Jewish Agency for Israel and is the director of the Randie Waldbaum Malinsky Center for Israel at the Sid Jacobson JCC.

He has a degree in economics and political science, and a master’s in organizational consulting, from Haifa University, and his career spans education and military service. He has worked extensively with teenagers and parents, including as a director of Diller Teen Fellows, a leadership program fostering connections within Jewish communities. Dagan and his wife, Gal, have two children, Yarden and Maayan.

His work in both the IDF and education has made him an influential voice on issues related to Israel’s security and the complex geopolitical landscape it navigates daily. Cohen previously served in Israel’s active reserve force, in the special forces unit Maglan. He took part in numerous operations in Judea, Samaria and along the Egyptian border, giving him firsthand knowledge of the intense pressures that Israeli military personnel face.

On Oct. 7, 2023, Cohen’s battalion was called to confront terrorists in settlements and later in Gaza. At the time, however, he was on a mission in the U.S., and couldn’t join his unit.

“I’m from the North of Israel. Grew up with Hezbollah all my life,” Cohen said. “I know the situation in the north, and the north has been at war for 11 months. People don’t notice it, but it feels like, for the first time, we’re doing something to change the equation. It’s going to be challenging, going to be hard, but I’m hoping that at the end of it, the reality will be different, and my family and friends will be able to go home safely.”

Cohen explained the strategic challenges Israel faces, and the ways in which Israel’s army has adapted to modern warfare. He described the IDF’s coordinated efforts between ground forces, tanks, the navy and the air force, calling it “one of the most high-level professional warfare operations” he has seen.

“Despite the difficulties we face, the IDF has become one of the most advanced and highly skilled armies in the world,” Cohen said. “The combination of our military’s experience, the use of technology like drones, and our resolve has created a situation where, in the long term, we are more prepared than ever.”

He didn’t shy away from the difficult realities of Israel’s relations with its neighbors. He spoke candidly about the historical conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, noting the importance of understanding the cultural and ideological complexities that fuel the tensions.

Cohen shared personal anecdotes about encounters with both Muslim and Christian Palestinians, acknowledging that while many Christians in the region are more connected to Israel, the situation remains deeply divisive. He pointed out that even Palestinians who have been displaced and commemorate the Nakba — the term used for the Palestinian exodus in 1948 — often have mixed emotions, simultaneously mourning their history while finding ways to co-exist with Israel.

“It’s complicated,” Cohen said. “We’ve been in conflict for over 100 years, and despite any peace talks, the situation on the ground shows that there’s still a long way to go before we see any meaningful change.”

He emphasized that the conflict in the Middle East is not only Israel’s battle but also a global one, and reflected on the growing connection between Jewish communities worldwide and Israel.

“One of the most significant outcomes of the recent conflicts is the strengthening of ties between Jews in Israel and those living abroad,” Cohen said. “This bond has been solidified in ways we’ve never seen before. It’s not just your generation, but your children and grandchildren who are feeling this connection.”

The event concluded with a powerful takeaway from Cohen: “If we come together, no one can overcome us. We’ve survived as a people for 3,000 years, and through unity, we will continue to thrive.”

The Jewish War Veterans’ Oceanside Post plans to continue hosting speakers and events that bring attention to critical issues facing Israel and the Jewish community.