Right-Wing Leaders Silent on Remarks Justifying Soldier Deaths

Prominent figures in Israel's national camp have remained silent following controversial remarks made by attorney Tamir Dortal. Dortal, during a podcast discussion about a potential evacuation of settlements in Judea and Samaria, suggested that even if IDF soldiers were killed resisting such an evacuation, preventing the move would still be a positive outcome in his view. The news outlet Srugim reached out to a wide array of leading national camp politicians, including ministers and Knesset members, asking if they condemned the statement that the deaths of IDF soldiers could be a justifiable price for preventing settlement evacuations. Among those contacted were Minister Amichai Chikli, Otzma Yehudit Chairman Itamar Ben-Gvir, Religious Zionism Chairman Bezalel Smotrich, and MKs Zvi Sukkot, Moshe Saada, Limor Son Har Melech, Zvika Fogel, and Avichai Boaron. As of the time of publication, none had issued a condemnation.

These elected officials, many of whom have long been identified with the settlement movement and opposition to evacuations, were asked to draw a clear line: fighting for the Land of Israel is acceptable, but justifying the deaths of IDF soldiers in such a struggle is not. However, when given the opportunity to state this publicly, no response was received. Dortal himself later clarified that his remarks were part of a philosophical discussion about a hypothetical scenario and not a call to harm IDF soldiers. Nevertheless, the question posed to the public representatives, whether the statements warrant condemnation, remains unanswered by them.