Congratulations Lieutenant-General Eizenkot. Or should I say Mazal Tov.
It is a hard thing to do, to destroy the morale of the IDF, but you’ve done it. Last week, before the Azaria verdict, you calmed the fears and worries of the parents of EVERY soldier by stating that the IDF soldiers are just that; soldiers. They should no longer be considered everyone’s son and daughter. You should have been clearer in your words. They are not our collective sons and daughters. They are game pieces for me to manipulate..
El’or Azaria was convicted of manslaughter. He was trained to perform, his job, and he did it admirably well. In a perfect world, El’or would have received a commendation. In a less-perfect world, he would have had a closed-door hearing. That way, if there was a reprimand required, or any other punishment. it could be dealt with within the bounds of military discipline. Instead. General Eizenkot chose to have a media circus out there, and that required that there be a sacrifice. And the sacrifice has its ripple effect.
In the terror attack today, armed soldiers were not willing to shoot without receiving an express order to do so. A civilian on the scene pulled out his pistol, and hesitated, because he saw the armed soldiers, and waited for them to start shooting. These soldiers were experienced; they are cadets in an officers course, but they are all afraid of going on public display. The IDF, of course, rejected this claim. Of course they did/ But the IDF would be quick to put another soldier on trial if the international public demanded it.
General Eizenkot, I think that you have hurt the morale of the IDF. Very badly. Despite what you claim, all of the soldiers in the IDF are my sons and daughters. And I know that most of the people I work with, that I associate with, are of the same opinion. To you, they are merely chess pieces, pawns that can be sacrificed as needed.
