IDF Chief Vows to Keep Politics Out of Military Amid Aryeh Deri's Criticism

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has firmly stated that he will not allow political disputes to infiltrate the military, especially as the country approaches upcoming elections. This declaration comes amid preparations within the IDF to resist attempts by various political actors to drag the army into political debates. The warning was made during closed discussions and reported by "Ulpan Shishi" on July 17, 2026.

The statement follows a sharp attack by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, who accused Zamir of siding with the left-wing bloc. Deri said in an interview that Zamir "tried to help the left-wing bloc" and lamented that "for a long time, I have seen that he has lost it." Deri’s criticism was partly in response to a warning letter Zamir sent to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee opposing a bill exempting draft evaders from arrest, which Deri viewed as politicizing the military.

The political tension appears aimed at intimidating the IDF leadership from expressing opinions or taking stances, with the military leadership emphasizing that decisions on military operations will be made solely on professional grounds without political influence. Meanwhile, the IDF’s Personnel Directorate head, Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa, addressed the recent approval of extending mandatory service to 32 months, clarifying that this measure does not eliminate the need to increase overall recruitment. He stressed the necessity of expanding the pool of conscripts and regularizing reserve service laws to build a stronger force.

The IDF regards the 32-month service extension as a minimum step to prevent a severe manpower crisis, describing it as a temporary "stopgap". The military is pushing for a uniform extension to 36 months to meet operational demands. Senior IDF officials have warned that without immediate action, the reserve forces will be severely weakened, jeopardizing Israel’s security. They also criticized the political leadership for passing what they called "laws of shame" that favor draft evaders over soldiers, placing the military in a difficult position.

The situation reflects a genuine crisis in Israel’s defense establishment, with top commanders and the Chief of Staff raising urgent alarms about the risks posed by current manpower policies and political interference.