Ex-IDF Commander Warns of Eroding Military Values Amid West Bank Incidents

Former head of the captive and missing persons unit and former commander of the Central Command, Major General (res.) Nitzan Alon, stated that there is a "significant erosion in IDF values among some soldiers and commanders." Speaking at an event for the LEAD organization's 2026 cohort, Alon noted this decline is observable and cannot be ignored.

Alon attributed this erosion to the prolonged conflict and internal Israeli societal debates about guiding values. He specifically pointed to incidents in the West Bank where soldiers allegedly act improperly, remain passive in the face of illegal and immoral actions, or even cooperate with them. Alon emphasized that commanders bear the responsibility to address these issues directly, stating, "The responsibility is first and foremost to see these things and not ignore them." He stressed the importance of maintaining ethical standards for Israel's long-term existence and self-respect.

Addressing the October 7th failures, Alon assigned responsibility to the political echelon for the overall conception regarding Hamas in Gaza. He argued that all prior intelligence, combined with information from observers and warning signs on the night of the attack, should have been treated as a concrete alert, necessitating action. Alon described this as the essence of the failure on both intelligence and military levels.

The discussion took place with participants of the LEAD program, a non-profit organization dedicated to developing future Israeli leaders. One participant, 17-year-old Shahar Gross, described the meeting as an open and honest conversation, highlighting Alon's ability to listen and engage with difficult questions, which he believes is crucial for future leaders.