Former Minister Ya'alon Slams Pre-Military Academy as 'Judeo-Nazis'

Former Israeli Minister Moshe Ya'alon has launched a scathing attack on the Eli pre-military academy, accusing it of promoting extremist ideologies. Speaking on a podcast for Gordon Academic College, Ya'alon described the messages conveyed at the academy as a "reverse Mein Kampf."

Ya'alon, who has a history with the academy since its founding, expressed concern over a perceived radicalization within parts of the religious Zionist movement, particularly certain rabbis and pre-military programs. He specifically cited lessons on "Jewish supremacy" at the Eli academy, which he stated he had previously supported.

As the son of a Holocaust survivor, Ya'alon questioned how such ideas could emerge, drawing a parallel to the Nazi ideology. He quoted the late Israeli intellectual Isaiah Leibowitz, who coined the term "Judeo-Nazis," stating that Ya'alon felt the academy's teachings were "really like that" and contained "very, very dangerous statements."

Ya'alon concluded by urging the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to set boundaries regarding such content, implying that the military should intervene to prevent the spread of these ideologies among potential recruits who attend such preparatory programs.