Bennett Says Soldiers in Lebanon Feel Politically Constrained

Naftali Bennett said he has been receiving many messages from soldiers and officers in Lebanon who, לדבריו, report that the political leadership is tying their hands and limiting their ability to act. He said the complaints are coming directly from troops on the ground.

Bennett addressed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, urging them to step aside if they cannot allow Israeli soldiers to defend themselves. In his words, “If you are not capable of letting our soldiers defend themselves, get out of here!”

The remarks were presented as a criticism of the current decision-making echelon over how the army operates in Lebanon, but no further operational details were given. The statement reflects growing friction, at least in Bennett’s account, between field forces and the political leadership over the rules under which the soldiers are fighting.