Former MK Haim Jelin Warns of IDF Force Reduction Near Gaza Border

Former Knesset Member Haim Jelin has expressed grave concern over a potential reduction of IDF forces along the "yellow line", the border with the Gaza Strip, due to troop fatigue. Jelin stated that he does not feel secure in his home in Kibbutz Be'eri, located near the Gaza border, and would not send school-aged children back there under current conditions. He revealed that he has rejected offers from both the government and the "change bloc" (presumably a political opposition group).

Jelin described hearing the "shockwaves" and understanding the situation within Gaza and along the border, leading him to believe forces will be thinned out. He fears this is not due to operational necessity but because soldiers are exhausted. He argued that the IDF is prepared for short-term conflicts, but Israel has been engaged in a prolonged conflict for three years, leading to burnout. Jelin warned that if soldiers are not given a chance to recover, Israel risks raising a generation that sacrifices itself for the state.

He criticized the Israeli government for failing to provide security, recalling his 2018 Knesset discussion about the threat of drones, which he now considers the most significant threat. Jelin highlighted the asymmetric warfare, where individuals willing to become martyrs pose a persistent danger, contrasting this with Israeli farmers. He asserted that if the next Israeli government does not prioritize security, parents will not sacrifice their minor children for the state when they have their whole lives ahead of them, emphasizing that protecting children is a parental duty and protecting citizens is a governmental one.