developing· Politics· Updated 10:11

Ben-Gvir Proposes Replacing IDF's 'Purity of Arms' Value

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has prepared a plan to overhaul the IDF's ethical code if he is appointed Defense Minister in the next government. The proposal, drafted by his Otzma Yehudit party, seeks to replace the core value of "Purity of Arms" with "Justification of Arms" or "Righteousness of Arms."

4 newsrooms · 1 language · since 07:57

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Ben-Gvir Proposes Replacing IDF's 'Purity of Arms' Value — Illustration by baba

What happened

01National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir proposed a plan to overhaul the IDF's ethical code if appointed Defense Minister.
02The proposal replaces the core value of "Purity of Arms" with "Justification of Arms" or "Righteousness of Arms."
03The plan removes explicit prohibitions against harming prisoners of war and uninvolved non-combatants.
04The revised code would eliminate references to "universal moral values" and ground the IDF's ethics in Jewish tradition and the Torah.
05The IDF would be defined as a "Jewish, state army" whose primary objective is achieving victory over enemies.
06The proposal incorporates the principle "He who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him" and removes limitations on the use of force.
07Ben-Gvir previously announced his bid for Defense Minister, advocating for voluntary Palestinian emigration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

Under the proposed changes, the ethical code would remove prohibitions against harming prisoners of war and non-combatants, as well as instructions for soldiers to use force only to the extent necessary. Instead, the code would be guided by the principle "He who comes to kill you, rise early to kill him."

Ben-Gvir's plan also aims to define the IDF as a "Jewish, state army" focused on victory and defeating the enemies of the State of Israel and the Jewish people. It would remove references to "universal moral values" and instead ground the army's ethical authority in the Torah, Jewish morality, Hebrew law, and Jewish tradition.

This proposal follows Ben-Gvir's announcement last month of his intention to demand the position of Defense Minister, alongside a security plan that includes encouraging voluntary Palestinian emigration from Gaza and Judea and Samaria.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 3 newsrooms. Updated 10:21

Latest report: Kan News. Read Kan News’s original