Parents of Commando Soldiers in Lebanon Blast Netanyahu, Katz and the IDF Chief

Dozens of parents of soldiers in the IDF Commando Brigade operating in Lebanon sent a sharp letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, accusing the leadership of leaving their sons in South Lebanon with “tied hands.” They demanded that the army either be allowed to defeat the enemy or that the government move immediately to end the fighting and bring all the soldiers home.

In the letter, the parents said they no longer see a clear purpose to the military activity in Lebanon. They wrote that “there seems to be no clear reason” for the current operation, and warned, “We will not allow our soldiers to be sacrificed because of foreign considerations or indifference from the political echelon.” They also called for ministers whose children or grandchildren do not serve in the IDF, and who are “proud” of that fact, to be excluded from cabinet discussions about the war.

The appeal follows what the parents describe as a difficult battlefield reality and testimonies from soldiers saying the IDF’s freedom of action is limited. One fighter told N12, “There are plans, we are just waiting for approval.” Another said the army receives unclear and sometimes contradictory orders, adding that since the ceasefire the rules of engagement have become very strict. He said that if there is a real threat, forces fire, but if they find a tunnel shaft, they do not destroy it, and they avoid using munitions that make “noise” at this stage.

The soldiers said the strict rules are intended to avoid diplomatic incidents because UN forces are present in the area. The same fighter said the maneuver has effectively stopped, and that while threats are still handled, the goal now is to create as little “mess and noise” as possible. Opposition leaders also seized on the letter: former prime minister and Yesh Atid? leader Naftali Bennett said the government sends soldiers into battle but “ties their hands,” while Yisrael Beytenu chairman Avigdor Liberman said the public should listen to the parents and to Zamir, whom he said had “raised ten red flags,” instead of running the army according to coalition survival needs.