![Ultra-Right vis-à-vis the Military; Netanyahu’s Bloody Vertigo in Israeli Politics [Part II]](https://al-sarira.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Ben-Gvir.jpg)
The Israeli military has been alleged with anti-Semitic prejudice on several occasions by the settlement community. And part of that mistrust extends beyond disagreements over military strategy. The army faces criticism from settlers and the ultra-Orthodox regarding what they consider to be its liberal ethos, which emphasizes gender equality and LGBTQ rights.
Some local commentators claim that the 2005 Gaza evacuation served as impetus for the extreme right’s and fundamentalist Zionist movement’s infiltration of the establishments. It featured a slow penetration of many of the nation’s institutions, including the bureau of justice, media, and educational system. The army’s cumbersome bureaucracies are still being worked out, though.
Still, their power within the armed forces is increasing. According to a recent article by The Guardian, over 40% of military combat officer college grads originate from ultra-Orthodox Jewish families. The group has a more similar outlook with Ben-Gvir and Smotrich than it does with the leaders of the democratic old generation of the Israeli armed services.
This impact is evident in the West Bank, which Israeli settlers claim is their own land by the grace of God, as well as Gaza. These nearly murderous religious cries are being repeated by these mid-level and lower-ranked officials. They either ignore it or commit heinous violations of human rights in the interim.
The Military Rift
The most noteworthy criticism was made earlier this month by Israeli general Yehuda Fox, who has been a member of the Israeli military for over 37 years. Over the history of the conflict, hundreds of Palestinians have been killed in the West Bank by settler violence, which he openly denounced. It was a “nationalist crime,” according to him.
However, in the end, there are still very few military units that criticize Israeli operations in the West Bank. In addition to almost daily strikes, the armed forces have been attacking Palestinian residential regions and buildings from the air since last year. The high command of the armed forces likewise seldom ever, if ever, criticizes its ongoing mistreatment of Palestinian people.
Regarding the Gaza War, both the administration and the military have both enthusiastically backed Gaza’s massive devastation. Their disagreements were mostly over strategies and long-term objectives, and they agreed that tens of thousands of Palestinians had been killed.
Gallant informed the general population at the start of July that the army urgently required 10,000 more men in order to continue military activities. Last month, sources in the media indicated that there were shortages of personnel, weapons, and equipment. There have been reports of tanks invading Gaza with only partial equipment, of reserve troops skipping duty increasingly, and of equipment going unfixed.
According to the sources, the IDF was also prepared to negotiate a ceasefire with Hamas in exchange for the release of the last prisoners.
Still, there are increasing indications of war exhaustion in Israeli society. A rising percentage of recruits and reservists who are keen to escape service in the Israeli military are inquiring, according to the Israeli group New Profile. The group helps Israelis who want to stay out of the army.
Although the army is far from prepared to revolt, few would argue that it isn’t under extreme strain. After over ten months of conflict, the Israeli military continues to battle on several fronts despite being undermanned, ill-equipped, and lacking a clear achievement.
Israel sees itself surrounded at home, as the extreme right has taken control of its positions and those in power whom it has vowed to support are accused of putting their own agendas ahead of the needs of the army they lead.
It still has the exclusive use of force in Gaza. It intimidates and harasses people in Lebanon. It is constantly attacked from Yemen both on land and in international seas. Additionally, there are clear and unidentified schemes and machinations happening in Iran.
