IDF's Internal Abuse Reflects Broader Impact of Prolonged Military Occupation on Israeli Society

The phenomenon known as "Pazam Games," involving severe abuse of young soldiers by their peers within the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), is not a trivial or isolated issue but a manifestation of deep moral corruption. This abusive behavior, often disguised under euphemisms like "Pazam Games" or "initiation rites," reflects a disturbing tradition of mistreatment that has existed in the IDF for years. The article argues that such internal violence stems from the broader context of Israel's prolonged military occupation and control over Palestinian populations, which has normalized the use of force and distorted moral standards within Israeli society.

The author, Orit Lavi-Nashiel, highlights that the IDF's self-image as a moral army contrasts sharply with the reality of ongoing violence against both Palestinians and young soldiers. The systemic use of power over civilians, including checkpoints and harsh military governance, has a diffusive effect, eroding ethical boundaries and leading to internal abuses. Reports of violence and mistreatment by soldiers against Palestinians, as well as the destruction wrought in Lebanon and Gaza during ongoing conflicts, underscore this pattern.

The article calls attention to the Israeli public's widespread silence and lack of critical reflection on whether security needs justify such force or if revenge and destruction have become ends in themselves. After six decades of occupation and conflict, the prolonged exercise of control and violence has deeply affected Israeli society's moral compass. Consequently, the internal violence within the IDF, exemplified by the "Pazam Games," is seen as a symptom of this broader societal impact, where violence ultimately turns inward and manifests as abuse among soldiers.