Defense Minister Ya'alon
Photo: Defense Ministry
Defense minister backs IDF chief on rules of engagement
After criticism over Eisenkot's comment that he didn't want 'a soldier to empty a magazine on a girl with scissors,' Ya'alon says that 'If someone poses a risk to our lives or the lives of others - we obviously must stop them, but we must not lose our humanity.'
Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon backed IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkott on Thursday, after the latter was hit with harsh criticism from the right-wing for saying that he didn't want "a soldier to empty a magazine on a girl with scissors."
"We've been fighting for our national home for many years. We need a skilled force to deal with our enemies, but we must maintain our values," Ya'alon said.
During a meeting with high school students in Bat Yam on Wednesday, the IDF chief was asked about the apparently soft rules of engagement in the West Bank.
IDF chief Eisenkot and Defense Minister Ya'alon (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, Defense Ministry)
"A soldier receives a rifle or a rocket to take a human life, and the rules of engagement are derived from the mission the force receives," Eisenkot said. "We do not act according to slogans like ‘whoever comes to kill you, kill him first.’ A soldier can remove the safety and shoot if there is a danger to him or his comrades."
These comments led to criticism from the right-wing, particularly from Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich, who also complained to the defense minister.
But the defense minister, who spoke on Thursday at a seminar at the Tel Chai College in memory of Maj. Eitan Balahsan, said he "completely backs what the chief of staff said on this matter."
According to Ya'alon, the rules of engagement have educational and ethical aspects in addition to operational aspects.
"Pulling the trigger in cases like that is the result of a very significant decision, because eventually, when if it is an enemy, you are taking his life," he said.
"If they pose a risk to our lives or the lives of others - we obviously must stop them and harm them in this short battle. On the other hand, we must not lose our humanity in moments like that, just because blood is boiling. We hear a lot of expressions like 'We must eliminate them and go crazy.' I say no to that: No to hurting innocent people, no to creating circumstances that would make us lose our way and the righteousness of that way. If there are innocents who do not pose any danger - women, children or helpless people - we mustn't unleash our rage on them."
