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Photo: Amit Shabi
Prime Minister Netanyahu
Photo: Amit Shabi

Netanyahu backs IDF chief on rules of engagement

PM says Eisenkot's comment that he 'did not want a soldier to empty a magazine on a girl with scissors' was 'self-evident'; other ministers also come in chief of staff's defense.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu backed IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot on Sunday in the wake of harsh criticism over comments he made about the rules of engagement.

 

 

In a meeting with high school students last week, Eisenkot was asked whether he thought it was time to update the IDF's rules of engagement. The IDF chief responded that he does not "want a soldier to empty a magazine on a girl with scissors," adding that the IDF does not act "according to slogans such as 'whoever comes to kill you, kill him first.'"

 

His comments were met with criticism from the right wing, led by Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich.

 

Eisenkot and Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shabi)
Eisenkot and Netanyahu (Photo: Amit Shabi)

 

"This is a pointless debate," Netanyahu said at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting. "What the chief of staff said is self-evident, and in any case, the IDF and the security forces operate in this manner. Everything that was said afterwards was said either out of misunderstanding or a desire to score political points."

 

Other government ministers and politicians also came in Eisenkot's defense on Sunday.

 

Finance Minister Moshe Kahlon told Ynet: "I sleep well when I know he's the chief of staff."

 

Interior Minister Aryeh Deri said that "We have an excellent IDF chief, he doesn't need my backing. The IDF chief is decent, strong, and runs the military courageously. I'm telling you - do not fear and do not be afraid. We're giving you our backing."

 

Education Minister Naftali Bennett, the leader of Bayit Yehudi, said that "IDF soldiers are the most moral and most assertive in the fight against terror. The IDF chief merely repeated the rules of engagement and I back him on that - if there's no life threatening situation, fire shouldn't be used."

 

Eisenkot, right, and 17-year-old Yuval Pollack, who asked the IDF chief about the rules of engagement (Photo: Motti Kimchi)
Eisenkot, right, and 17-year-old Yuval Pollack, who asked the IDF chief about the rules of engagement (Photo: Motti Kimchi)

 

Construction Minister Yoav Galant said earlier Sunday that "It is the IDF chief's duty to determine the rules of engagement and explain them and I'm happy he's done so. When fighting against terror, especially the kind of terrorism we're experiencing now, soldiers must use the minimum required force rather than the possible maximum."

 

Minister for Social Equality Gila Gamliel said the IDF chief "clarified what we all know: The IDF is the most moral army and as such, (Eisenkot's) statements are entirely accurate."

 

Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan said that "Unfortunately, the IDF chief's comments were blown out of proportion many times by the media that might prefer to find cracks, breaches or wrong things done by the security forces. I've made it clear that despite the impression given in the press, but not by the IDF chief, there was no actual incident in which a magazine was emptied out."

 

"I suggest that we wrap up this conversation and calm down," he added.

 

Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon has already given his support to the IDF chief last week. "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 on Thursday.

 

Among Eisenkot's critics were Transportation Minister Yisrael Katz (Likud), Deputy Foreign Minister Tzipi Hotovely (Likud) and Bayit Yehudi MK Bezalel Smotrich.

 

Katz wrote on his Facebook page that he "hopes the comments of the IDF, whom I appreciate and value, against the automatic fire against minors, were not wrongly interpreted (by soldiers) and led to hesitation and risking lives. Because sometimes the message is stronger than the words."

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 02.21.16, 12:02
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