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 in the lead-up to the upcoming elections. This declaration comes amid preparations within the IDF to resist attempts by various political actors to drag the army into political debates as part of election campaigns. Zamir made these remarks during closed-door discussions, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the military's apolitical stance.

The comments follow a sharp attack by Shas party leader Aryeh Deri, who accused Zamir of siding with the left-wing bloc and claimed that Zamir "has lost it". Deri criticized Zamir’s warning letter to the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee opposing a bill that would exempt draft evaders from arrest, accusing the Chief of Staff of mixing politics with military affairs. Despite the criticism, Zamir and the IDF leadership continue to focus on ensuring that military decisions, including any escalation or expansion of operations, are made solely on professional grounds.

In a related development, IDF Personnel Directorate head Major General Dado Bar-Kalifa addressed the recent approval of extending mandatory service to 32 months. He clarified that this extension does not eliminate the need to increase overall recruitment and service duration to build a stronger force. The IDF views 32 months as a minimum measure to prevent a severe manpower crisis, with ongoing advocacy for extending service to 36 months to meet operational demands.

Senior military officials have expressed concern that without immediate action, the reserve forces will suffer significant degradation, threatening Israel’s security. They warn that the current situation forces the IDF into a defensive posture, with political leadership criticized for passing "laws of shame" that prioritize draft evaders over soldiers. The military leadership is raising urgent alarms to the government about the critical manpower challenges facing the defense establishment.