Israel Hayom correspondent Ariel Kahana sharply criticized IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi in a Thursday morning social-media post, accusing the military of breaching democratic norms by briefing the media against the political echelon before a scheduled security meeting. The post follows the death of two IDF soldiers in a Hezbollah bomb attack in southern Lebanon on Wednesday.
As The Zioneer reported on Wednesday evening, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz held a security meeting after the deadly Hezbollah bomb that killed two soldiers in southern Lebanon. The meeting was scheduled for 21:00 Jerusalem time. However, prior to the discussion, multiple military correspondents reported that the IDF had demanded a forceful response, which the political echelon was blocking.
In his post, Kahana argues that the military's briefing to the media before the political discussion constitutes a violation of the principle of military subordination to civilian authority. He questions whether the IDF is fully aware of the political considerations, including potential implications for relations with the U.S., and warns that such actions undermine democratic governance.
The post adds to a series of public tensions between Israel's military and political leadership over the conduct of the Lebanon campaign, a recurring theme in recent months that has seen ministers and former officials criticize the government's handling of the northern front.
- DevelopingAriel Kahana hints IDF faces operational limits in Lebanon despite public impression
- DevelopingKahana publishes photo of UNIFIL soldier trying to intercept Israeli drone in southern Lebanon
- DevelopingIsraeli Security Analyst: Political Echelon, IDF Compete Over Aggression, Warns of Lebanon Entanglement
- DevelopingMK Boaron accuses Chief of Staff of running political campaign against government
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