IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi said at this week’s Officers’ Course graduation that “whoever does not prevent attacks on Palestinian property cannot be an [Israeli military] officer.”
He was referring to the recent outburst of anger by Jewish residents of the Binyamin Region against Palestinian terrorism, and the right-wing public outcry after IDF forces cracked down on local Jews.
While it is indeed the job of Israeli security forces to prevent lawlessness, those isolated violent riots by Jewish “settlers” were the result of the IDF failing to prevent daily Palestinian attacks (most of them life-threatening) against local Jews. And that–protecting the citizens of Israel against outside threats–is the IDF’s primary job.
Yes, the IDF is operating in Samaria on a daily basis, and is doing outstanding work. But still local Jewish residents face daily attacks.
Why didn’t Halevi balance his remarks by saying no one can be an IDF officer if they are not dedicated to preventing stone-throwing attacks against Jewish motorists, or mob lynchings of Jewish shepherds?
Perhaps he takes for granted that all Israeli military officers already think this way. But the recent exposure of the deep rifts in Israeli society has revealed that many secular Israelis do not see as brothers the national religious Jews, particularly those “settlers” who live in the biblical heartland, and presumably feel no obligation to defend them.
As evidence of this phenomenon, Jewish settlers pointed to the recent behavior of Col. Eliav Elbaz, the IDF Binyamin Regional Brigade Commander. According to eyewitnesses, during one of the recent Palestinian rampages against Jewish residents of Binyamin, Elbaz threatened not the attackers, but Jewish cattle herders who were being attacked.
The owner of a small cattle farm in the Binyamin region told religious media that Elbaz threatened to shoot all of his cattle if they weren’t removed from the area. The cattle and the herders who tend to them are easy targets for Palestinian rioters, and no doubt the source of many headaches for the IDF. Still, local residents warned that by blaming the victim, the IDF commander was only encouraging Palestinian violence.
If national religious Jews need to be reminded that as officers they must be dedicated to preventing Jewish lawlessness, then secure Israelis need to also be reminded of their obligation to fight for all fellow Israelis, including the “messianic” settlers.
But the current messages coming from the Tel Aviv elite give the impression that Israel cares more for its enemies than for Jews residing in the so-called “West Bank.” In fact, some of them outright say as much.
Is Israel hopelessly divided? For all its successes, the reborn Jewish state seems determined to tear itself apart. And this is nothing new. Internal strife brought down Israel more than once in biblical times. Now, like then, the only remedy to this problem is turning to God.
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4 responses to “Does Israel Care More for Its Enemies Than for Jewish ‘Settlers’?”
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Shalom,
An unequivocal yes, it is the Settlers who are being pushed in from every direction, absolute insanity!!! Bleeding heart liberalism run a muck!
The poor self identifying Palestinians, when the Settlers push back, they stop serving delicacies and start worrying about what will happen to themselves, this will end sooner rather than later!
QUIT attacking the Jewish Settlers!!!
Thank you for your article and your last sentence encouraging us to turn to God. Exodus 23:21, speaks to us of God’s Angel, “Pay attention to him, listen to what he says and do not rebel against him; because he will not forgive any wrongdoing of yours, since my name resides in him.” (CJB)
God so loved the world that He gave His Son, in whom is God’s name–“God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself…” (2 Corinthians 5:19). Our Father in heaven, I lift Israel and her neighbors before you, that they would know the power of your love for them and your forgiveness through the shed blood of your Son, Jesus, our High Priest, through whom we come to you; I pray you will bless them and be powerful among them that our world will see you and know you.
The IDF may have gone woke. They may be part of the increasing secularisation of Israel that’s led by former leaders and commanders like Liberman and Gantz. Even Knesset members like Michaeli are in on the act as they support the prevailing antizionist worldview of the UN that God’s people are not welcome in the world. That’s the worldview that produced the Deluge, Sodom and the fall of many empires.
Neither Orthodoxy nor other religions are impressing secularists with a good reason to have a high regard for God. Worse still, Israel has the impression that an Orthodox response to a hostile invasion would be to do something religious like in 1 Samuel 4 when the Ark was lost.
The battle lines for Israel are principally spiritual not territorial. The IDF need to find the right spiritual cause to fight for. They should make their assessment and open the debate as to why certain spiritual positions were rejected. They need to share how they would honour the Lord.
Google translation: Apparently, some leaders lack knowledge of God’s will for Israel.
They allow themselves to be influenced too much by public opinion. It is not enough for such persons to master their daily craft, but they must also know the will of God from the TANACH.
Offensichtlich fehlt manchen Verantwortlichen die Kenntnis des Willens Gottes über Israel.
Sie lassen sich zu sehr von der öffentlichen Meinung beeinflussen. Es genügt für solche Personen nicht, ihr tägliches Handwerk zu beherrschen, sondern sie müssen auch den Willen Gottes aus dem TANACH kennen.