US-Funded Group Aims to Reshape Israeli Security Elite

A new organization funded by wealthy American Jews, called the "Center for Israeli Freedom," is working to reshape Israel's security and political elite by cultivating a new generation of far-right officers. This initiative is a new iteration of the "Hope Fund," which previously supported the "Kohelet" organization that spearheaded the judicial overhaul plan.

The "Center for Israeli Freedom" operates through the "Argaman Institute," headed by Ronen Shoval, founder of the far-right "Im Tirtzu" movement. The institute runs programs, including the "Churchill Program," which convenes security personnel weekly in Jerusalem to discuss conservative ideas and build a network for a new right-wing elite, mirroring the strategy of the conservative movement in the United States.

According to a report in Haaretz, the group's objective is to install leaders in the security apparatus who advocate for the expulsion of Palestinians and perpetual war. A 270-page document produced by "Churchill Program" participants outlines a vision where peace is not a strategic goal, and conflict is inevitable. It calls for preemptive strikes, expanding the army, establishing buffer zones outside Israeli territory, and preparing for multi-front warfare, including deep invasions.

The document also suggests that Egypt and Jordan could become future adversaries, necessitating contingency plans. It asserts that Israel's enemies seek its annihilation due to ideology, not poor living conditions, and that the conflict with Palestinians is intractable, with no difference between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas. The plan advocates for dismantling the PA, annexing the West Bank, and encouraging "voluntary" Palestinian emigration, estimating up to 750,000 Palestinians could leave within a decade, with a dedicated ministry to manage this process.

Furthermore, the document proposes a national mobilization mindset, requiring budget reallocation from public services to security, reducing US aid to foster independence, and cutting public sector jobs and salaries. It also calls for redefining the IDF's ethical code based on nationalistic principles, emphasizing victory and national identity over universal human values, and including a directive for the "eradication of the enemy."

David Zini, the current head of the Shin Bet, is identified as a graduate of the "Churchill Program's" second cohort. He recently stated his intention to advance his own agenda. The "Churchill Program" has graduated 65 individuals, including media spokespeople, ministerial advisors, military officers, and government officials. Notable attendees in its first cohort included students and teachers from the preparatory military college in the Eli settlement, a stronghold of the far-right.