Israeli military paralyzed by political infighting

On Friday evening, Maariv published a report on the unprecedented rise in tension and conflict inside the Israeli army between senior officers on one side and political brokers and the leadership of the Ministry of War on the other.

According to the report, following severe criticism of  Katz over failures in managing the army during this sensitive phase and the impact of his decisions on the Israeli regime’s internal security, Katz has sparked widespread controversy in recent weeks.

According to the newspaper, Yisrael Katz has been accused of destroying the army’s capabilities from within.

The report says that the Israeli war minister has generated significant controversies in recent weeks and has faced criticism for failing in the management of the army and for taking actions that negatively affect Israel’s security. Nevertheless, the report notes that, in the view of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Katz is considered the most deserving and most effective member compared to other ministers and former leaders.

The report points out that German Giltman, one of the most prominent army officers in leading forces during the Gaza operations since October 7, 2023, proved his competence and experience in commanding the most difficult operations and was expected in the coming years to assume leadership of one of the most important key centers in army command.

However, the interventions of Katz and political intermediaries led to obstruction in Giltman’s promotion and that of a number of other officers. Maariv described this action by Katz as a direct threat to the future of the military institution, after turning the position of chief of staff into a tool to serve political interests. The report portrayed this issue as a crisis that threatens the stability of the Israeli army.

The report also notes that Eyal Zamir, the army chief of staff, has called for the formation of a national committee of inquiry to address the problem. However, it highlights Zamir’s limited ability to impose his authority in the face of the extensive influence of political brokers who run the scene from behind the scenes, as the army today has effectively lost ground to these intermediaries and politicians.

According to the newspaper, the Israeli army is no longer under the control of the General Staff’s leadership and has instead fallen into the hands of a network of intermediaries and minor politicians who decide the future of officers and make decisions regarding appointments and dismissals.

The report warns that the continuation of this internal conflict will lead to the weakening of the military institution, deepen divisions between commanders and field personnel, and ultimately erode public trust in the army.