Israeli Generals' Political Pitfalls: Lack of Experience Leads to Failure

The article examines the recurring theme of Israeli generals entering politics and often failing to achieve lasting success, attributing this to a fundamental lack of political and managerial experience.

It notes that only two former generals, Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak, have reached the prime minister's office, while Ariel Sharon is considered an exception due to his extensive prior political career. Rabin's first term as prime minister in 1974, despite his military accolades, ended abruptly due to a government crisis and a miscalculation regarding a no-confidence vote. Ehud Barak's tenure was less than two years, marked by the controversial withdrawal from Lebanon, which the author suggests sowed the seeds for the Second Lebanon War.

Other generals who entered politics also faced significant challenges. Rafael Eitan, despite leading his party to a respectable eight seats in 1992, suffered from poor judgment in selecting candidates, leading to the defection of two members that enabled the Oslo Accords. Amnon Lipkin-Shahak and Yitzhak Mordechai, heading the "Party of Center" in 1999, failed to meet inflated expectations, securing only six seats and fading from the political scene. Benny Gantz, despite initial electoral success with 33 mandates, became a "rotational prime minister" and later joined the government post-October 7th, a move the author deems political suicide.

The author argues that these generals, often after a brief "cooling-off period" post-military service, jump directly into high-level politics, aiming for the premiership without foundational parliamentary or ministerial experience. This mirrors a quote attributed to Suvorov: "It was smooth on paper, but they forgot about the ravines, and walking through them." The article concludes that navigating Israeli politics requires a specific skill set and artistry that these military leaders often lack.