Ben-Gvir Seeks Defense Ministry, Proposes IDF Ethics Code Overhaul

By חדשות כיפה

Translated & summarized from Kipa by baba

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Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has proposed significant changes to the IDF's ethical code, emphasizing Jewish values and the goal of victory over enemies. The revisions replace "purity of arms" with "righteousness of arms" and remove limitations on force, while also adding Jewish sources for ethics and removing universal ones. Ben-Gvir's stated ambition to become defense minister has been met with strong opposition and rejection from Prime Minister Netanyahu.

The story in 6 lines · by baba

Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed changes to the IDF's ethical code, emphasizing Jewish values and victory.
The concept of "purity of arms" would be replaced with "righteousness of arms" in the IDF code.
The revised code removes limitations on soldiers' use of force and prohibitions on harming civilians.
Ben-Gvir also seeks the defense minister portfolio, a demand rejected by Likud and Prime Minister Netanyahu.
Opposition figures Gadi Eisenkot and Yair Lapid criticized Ben-Gvir's defense aspirations.
The "Spirit of the IDF" document, first drafted in 1994, has been a source of past controversies.

Ben-Gvir Seeks Defense Ministry, Proposes IDF Ethics Code Overhaul — Editorial illustration generated by baba News, not a photograph of the event.

Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who previously declared his intention to demand the defense portfolio after the elections, a demand flatly rejected by the Likud party, has now presented significant changes to the IDF's "Spirit of the IDF" document, which serves as the army's ethical code. The proposed revisions aim to strengthen the army's Jewish identity and emphasize the values of victory in battle and defeating enemies.

Under Ben-Gvir's plan, the primary objective of the IDF would be redefined as striving for victory and overcoming the enemies of Israel, a shift from the original document's definition of protecting the state and its inhabitants. Among the notable changes, the concept of "purity of arms" would be replaced by "righteousness of arms," explicitly stating that the soldier's guiding principle is "he who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him." Conversely, formulations that could be interpreted as limiting soldiers' use of force to what is necessary have been removed. The updated document also omits specific prohibitions against harming uninvolved civilians and prisoners, though it does state that soldiers must maintain human dignity in combat.

The new document defines the IDF as a "Jewish and state" army, a change from the previous definition of solely "Jewish." It expands the army's value sources, emphasizing Jewish ethical values derived from the Torah, Jewish ethics, Hebrew law, and the tradition of the people. Universal ethical values, previously cited in the old document, have been entirely removed.

The "Spirit of the IDF" document was first drafted in 1994, with then-Major General Yoram Yair and Professor Asa Kasher leading the committee. In 2022, under then-Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi, the value of statism was added. The document has previously sparked controversy, notably in the Elor Azaria case.

Ben-Gvir's broader security plan includes encouraging voluntary emigration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria, disarming the Palestinian Authority, and arresting senior terror supporters. His ambition to become defense minister has drawn strong criticism from the opposition, with Gadi Eisenkot calling it a grave danger to the country and Yair Lapid questioning the suitability of someone who has not served in the army for the role. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also rejected Ben-Gvir's demand.

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