IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir May Benefit From Gadi Eisenkot's Move

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's efforts to ignite the Middle East and postpone elections have been thwarted, with the current political climate potentially benefiting Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. The article suggests that Netanyahu sought to escalate conflicts to delay elections, but Zamir, in his role as Chief of Staff, prioritized national security and the lives of soldiers and civilians over coalition interests. Netanyahu's demand for an active war of attrition was met with a crackdown on draft-dodging Haredim by the Chief of Staff, which fractured Netanyahu's coalition.

Netanyahu publicly opposed the arrest of yeshiva students, calling it an attempt to harm Haredi enlistment. The article criticizes the Shin Bet for not fulfilling its role in safeguarding democracy, stating the military has taken on this task, including a controversial recruitment campaign. The IDF's decision to cancel a prayer event at a holy site near the Lebanese border, intended to rally support before elections, is also mentioned. The CEO of a local Hesder Yeshiva explained the site's significance, linking it to the original Abraham Accords, and Zamir reportedly supported the cancellation.

The piece posits that the conflict between military and political interests in a democratic state creates complex challenges. It describes the military as navigating internal societal divisions and maintaining its structure while conducting counter-terrorism operations. The article claims that Zamir's efforts to control the army at the ground level have been inconsistent, with successes and failures. It links the ongoing violence in the West Bank and Gaza to a 'collective brainwashing' that dehumanizes both Palestinians and soldiers, leading to cruelty and sadism.

The author argues that this routine mistreatment of Palestinians, including home demolitions and agricultural produce theft, is creating global resentment and damaging Israel's international image. Soldiers are becoming targets for international legal action, and the article suggests Zamir is aligned with those perpetuating these actions. The article concludes by noting Zamir's political alignment with former generals in the opposition, whose platform is based on pragmatic combativeness. Zamir's direct ties with the commander of US forces in the region reportedly facilitated understandings with the US military amidst the uncertainty surrounding potential attacks on Iran.