Israeli Generals' Political Careers Often End in Failure, Article Argues
Translated & summarized from Vesty by baba
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- Many former Israeli military chiefs of staff have failed in politics, despite public respect.
- Moshe Dayan was indecisive in politics despite military legend.
- Yitzhak Rabin's political terms were marked by inexperience and challenges.
- Yigal Yadin's political party dissolved quickly due to a lack of political skills.
- Raphael Eitan's political naivete led to detrimental coalition decisions.
- Beni Gantz is presented as a current example of a general struggling politically.
Israel's unique situation, where the military is deeply integrated with society, has led many former IDF chiefs of staff to believe they can successfully transition into politics. However, the article argues that this transition has historically proven to be a "gross error" for most.
Starting with Moshe Dayan, the fourth chief of staff, the article contends that while legendary in military affairs, he was indecisive in politics, particularly as defense minister before and during the Yom Kippur War. His tenure in politics after his military career was unremarkable.
Yitzhak Rabin, chief of staff during the Six-Day War, is presented as an example of a leader who, despite gaining experience, failed in his first term as prime minister due to political inexperience and miscalculations. His second term also ended with significant national challenges.
The article also examines Yigal Yadin, who formed the DASH party after the Yom Kippur War. Despite initial electoral success, the party quickly dissolved, illustrating that political leadership requires different skills than military command. Raphael Eitan (Raful), the eleventh chief of staff, is cited for his political naivete, leading to his party's downfall and enabling the Oslo Accords through the actions of his coalition partners.
Further examples include Ehud Barak, the fourteenth chief of staff, whose premiership was short-lived and marked by controversial decisions, and Amnon Lipkin-Shahak, whose political party also failed to gain lasting traction. Shaul Mofaz, the sixteenth chief of staff, is criticized for his support of the disengagement from Gaza and perceived administrative failures as defense minister. Moshe (Bugi) Ya'alon, the seventeenth chief of staff, is noted for publicly condemning a soldier before a trial concluded.
Finally, the article points to Beni Gantz, the twentieth chief of staff, as a current example of a general struggling in politics, whose party has seen a significant decline in support. The overarching argument is that military success does not automatically translate to political acumen, which requires specific experience, knowledge, and skills.
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