Shas Leader Aryeh Deri Accuses IDF Chief of Staff of Political Bias and Harm to Military

Aryeh Deri, chairman of the Shas party, launched a sharp and unprecedented attack against IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi in an interview on July 16. Deri criticized Kochavi for sending a warning letter to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee opposing a bill exempting IDF deserters from arrest, a law Deri himself initiated. He accused Kochavi of mixing politics with military affairs and claimed this set a dangerous precedent that harmed the Israel Defense Forces.

Deri stated that although he respects Kochavi and has defended him in the past, he believes the Chief of Staff has "lost it" and is more focused on defending his reputation than on substantive military issues. He argued that Kochavi’s opposition to the bill was contradictory, especially since the law was being advanced by both the Defense Minister and the Prime Minister. Deri asserted that Kochavi’s letter was an attempt to aid the political left bloc, which he said has been working to stop judicial reform over the past two to three years.

Deri concluded that Kochavi’s involvement in politics is inappropriate and that his actions caused significant damage to the military rather than helping it. He warned that the consequences of this dangerous precedent would be costly in the future.