Political Attacks Undermine IDF Chief of Staff's Authority Amid Coalition Tensions

Arie Deri, a convicted criminal and current Knesset member, recently launched a sharp verbal attack against IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir. Despite Deri's criminal record barring him from serving as a minister, he freely criticizes the military leadership while supporting his grandchildren's exemption from military service. This behavior reflects a broader pattern of coalition politicians attacking the IDF chief, which has intensified since the October 7 disaster three years ago. At that time, political figures, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, sought to shift blame from themselves onto the then Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, marking the start of a damaging trend of politicizing the military command.

Eyal Zamir was appointed Chief of Staff in a rare consensus between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, seen as a qualified and suitable candidate by both sides. However, soon after his appointment, coalition members loyal to Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich began criticizing Zamir for not being aggressive enough and resisting their attempts to politicize the army. Zamir's efforts to maintain military unity and prevent politicization included banning unauthorized symbols like the "Messiah" patch on soldiers' uniforms, which angered religious Zionist factions.

The most significant conflict between Zamir and the government concerns the issue of ultra-Orthodox conscription. Zamir emphasized the need for about 12,000 additional soldiers, including 7,000 combat troops, to address Israel's evolving security challenges post-October 7. However, his professional warnings were perceived by coalition leaders and Netanyahu as political opposition to legislation easing military exemptions for yeshiva students. Zamir sought to avoid confrontation by conceding on minor issues but remained firm on core security needs.

Recent attacks by coalition figures, including Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee Chairman Boaz Bismuth and Deri, have further eroded Zamir's moral and command authority. Deri's public claim that Zamir's actions are politically motivated undermines the chief of staff's legitimacy to lead soldiers into battle, a role requiring moral and legal authority. The ongoing politicization of the IDF's top leadership risks long-term damage to Israel's security and public trust in the military's apolitical professionalism.

Restoring the IDF chief's authority will require years and different governments to convince the public that the chief of staff serves the state and not political interests. The entrenched pattern of coalition attacks on the military leadership continues to harm Israel's defense capabilities despite changes in command and the absence of senior officers involved in the October 7 failures.