Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot reportedly told Mordechai David on the beach that he does not cooperate with those who do not serve in the military, and repeated a call to 'go serve in the army and come back to me.' According to reports, Eisenkot smiled and described the exchange as another attempt at 'blocking' by the activist.
Former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot has described the beach encounter with the activist Mordechai David as another attempt at 'blocking' by the activist, according to a report published Friday evening. Eisenkot reportedly repeated his call for David to serve in the military, stating, 'I don't cooperate with someone who doesn't serve in the army — go serve in the army and come back to me.' The exchange, which took place on a beach, was first reported by Israel Hayom around 17:23 Jerusalem time.
The initial report at 17:23 quoted Eisenkot telling David, 'Go serve in the army and come back to me.' Within the same minute, additional reports added that Eisenkot said, 'I only cooperate with those who served in the military,' and 'You will serve in the army and come back to me.' The latest update, also from Israel Hayom, adds that Eisenkot smiled and characterized the exchange as an attempt to block a Haredi activist from engaging with him.
The Zioneer has previously reported on Eisenkot's consistent position on mandatory military service. In July, he responded to Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef's expression of support by stating that he sees political partnership only with those who accept the duty of conscription, and that he will not compromise on this principle. Earlier this week, a cartoon published in the newspaper HaDerech depicted Eisenkot physically blocking a Haredi man from entering the government, highlighting his image as a firm opponent of exemptions from military service.
The identity of Mordechai David remains unclear — whether he is a known activist against military conscription or a private citizen. The reports are based on a single source (Israel Hayom) and have not been corroborated by additional outlets. The exact circumstances of the encounter on the beach also remain unverified.
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