Ben-Gvir Proposes Overhaul of IDF's Ethical Code
Translated & summarized from Now 14 by baba
National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has proposed changes to the IDF's ethical code, "Ruach Tzahal." The plan would replace "Purity of Arms" with "Righteousness of Arms," emphasizing the principle "He who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him." It also seeks to prioritize victory and incorporate Jewish morality, removing references to universal values. The changes aim to strengthen the army's Jewish identity.
The story in 6 lines · by baba
- National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed changing the IDF's ethical code, "Ruach Tzahal."
- The plan suggests replacing "Purity of Arms" with "Righteousness of Arms."
- A key principle to be added is "He who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him."
- The proposal aims to prioritize victory and incorporate Jewish morality.
- References to "universal moral values" would be removed from the code.
- The IDF would be defined as a "Jewish, state army."
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir has put forth a plan to significantly alter the Israel Defense Forces' (IDF) ethical code, known as "Ruach Tzahal" (Spirit of the IDF). The proposal aims to strengthen the army's Jewish identity and prioritize the value of victory against Israel's enemies.
The most prominent change suggested is replacing the current clause "Purity of Arms" with "Righteousness of Arms." This new section would incorporate the principle "He who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him." Additionally, formulations that restrict actions to "only the necessary extent" would be removed, as would the prohibition against harming "non-involved" individuals.
Under Ben-Gvir's plan, the IDF's supreme objective would be redefined as striving for victory and the decisive defeat of Israel's adversaries. The army's values would be expanded to emphasize Jewish morality, drawing from the Torah, Jewish law, and Israeli tradition. The IDF would be defined as a "Jewish, state army," and references to "universal moral values" would be eliminated.
New IDF values presented in the plan include "Love of the People of Israel, the Land of Israel, and loyalty to the state," "Statehood," defining the IDF as "the people's army, a Jewish, state army, subject to the law and the government," and upholding "human dignity," which is defined as a value not conditioned by origin, religion, nationality, gender, status, or role.
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