Israel's Political Class Flirts With Civilian Control Becoming Political Control

Yashar leader Gadi Eisenkot (Channel 12 screenshot)

There are moments in the life of a democracy when the greatest danger does not come from an external enemy, but from the temptation of those in power to bend the state's institutions to their own political ambitions. Israel, a nation whose security depends on an independent and professional military, has once again found itself confronting that uncomfortable reality.

The latest controversy erupted after Defense Minister Israel Katz announced during a live television appearance that he was replacing IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, despite lacking the legal authority to make such a decision. Whether one supports or opposes the current government, the episode raises a far more consequential question than the fate of a single general. It asks whether political theater is beginning to eclipse the rule of law in matters of national defense.

Opposition leader and former IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot wasted little time condemning the move.


"The spectacle that took place on [Channel 14] was an unprecedented lowpoint in relations between the political and military echelons, an improper and unlawful act," Eisenkot wrote on X. "The State of Israel is no one's private property, and the IDF is not a tool to be used in primaries by politicians who've lost their way."

His criticism lands at an especially delicate political moment. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud Party is preparing for August 17 primaries, where more than 100,000 party members will determine the party's Knesset slate ahead of Israel's October 27 general election. Katz is widely viewed as seeking a higher position on that list, making any appearance of politicizing military leadership especially damaging.

Eisenkot did not stop there. He argued that the government "is not fit to safeguard the security of the state," adding that "very soon, the people of Israel will have worthy and responsible leadership, with Israel's welfare and security as its sole concern."

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett was equally unsparing, accusing the government of turning against the very institution charged with defending the nation.


"After dismantling the IDF from the outside and paving the way for mass draft evasion, the October 7 government has now decided to dismantle the IDF from within and guarantee complete chaos," Bennett wrote. "Tonight, I say to every citizen of Israel, and to all IDF soldiers and commanders, both active-duty and reservists: Hold on tight, the reinforcements are on their way. Soon, we will replace them, and together we will set things right."

Israel's security has always rested on a delicate constitutional understanding. Civilian leaders rightly command the military, but they do so through established legal authority and institutional restraint, not televised declarations or campaign calculations. Democracies survive because governments change while institutions endure.

Whether this latest dispute proves to be an isolated political misjudgment or a symptom of something more corrosive remains to be seen. But history offers a consistent lesson: once military appointments become instruments of partisan advantage, public confidence in both government and the armed forces begins to erode. That is a price Israel, surrounded by enemies and dependent upon the professionalism of the IDF, can scarcely afford to pay.

I want to thank you for following Brain Flushings. Please take time to simply check out the sponsors on this page--it's one way to support my work and you don't need to purchase anything to do so. Of course, you can Buy Me A Coffee if you want to support me directly. And finally, don't be afraid to subscribe if you enjoy the blog--it's free, and worth the cost.

Tweet