Israel is obviously not Russia. The press is not locked down and the opposition is not gagged. But in the Jewish state, as elsewhere, the words of soldiers are highly monitored, and sidesteps are little appreciated. This is why only a tiny portion of them try the exercise. Coming out of silence this Wednesday, March 13, Brigadier General Dan Goldfus, who is among the best elements of the IDF, now belongs to this small circle of reckless people.
“You must be worthy of us,” he says, in the middle of a press conference from the Gaza border. The commander of the 98th IDF division addresses the leaders of the Jewish state. Tall, massive, with a long beard, the 48-year-old general insists in his khaki green outfit: “You must be worthy of the soldiers who lost their lives. You must be worthy of the reservists […] who fought and are fighting alongside each other”. Without forgetting to remind the government of the “resounding failure” of October 7. Still unspeakable today, for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The discredit of the IDF
In his footsteps, Dan Goldfus, who led operations in Khan Younès, even allows himself criticism against the government of national unity, whose spectrum extends from liberal centrists to the most conservative. “Make sure everyone participates, you have to do it,” in reference to ultra-Orthodox Jews, who are exempt from military service.
And to continue, without clearly specifying his point: “We accomplish many feats on the battlefield […] you must ensure that we do not return to October 7, that all the efforts and sacrifices are not in vain. You must keep this in mind, every day, every hour.”
Very quickly, the general’s statements were picked up by the local press, unfamiliar with the outrages of senior army officers. Neither one nor two, the IDF counterattacks and tries to make up for it. “General Goldfus’s speech was not approved,” lectures the Israeli army, which decides to inflict on him, in addition to a blow of pressure, a humiliation: the public announcement of his upcoming summons with Lieutenant -General Herzi Halevi, who is none other than the Chief of Staff.
Conservative support
Dan Goldfus’ call “to the leaders of each camp” does not come at any time. It has already been several days since the fighting in the south of the Gaza Strip reduced in intensity. Which is not to the taste of those in favor of a more aggressive approach. On the right of the political spectrum, the Israeli commander’s speech was widely acclaimed, although few members of the government stood up to express their support.
The Minister of the Interior, Moshe Arbel, from the ultra-Orthodox Shas party, for example declared that he “embraced and took to heart every word spoken by Mr. Goldfus”. Same tone from his colleague in Finance. Ranked on the far right, Bezalel Smotrich praised a “courageous soldier” whom the IDF needs today “more than ever”. And to sharply criticize the decision of the chief of staff to summon Dan Goldfus. “Now is not the time for clarifications […] Keep the command remarks and clarifications for those responsible for the failure,” Bezalel Smotrich lectured from his X account (formerly Twitter) early Wednesday evening.
More nuanced, the Minister of the Economy Nir Barkat, who trained in Likud, the party representing the moderate right, recognizes in the commander of the 98th division behavior “which was not perfect” across the board, certainly in reference to his appearance in front of the Israeli press a few hours earlier. Still, according to him, Dan Goldfus’ words “are precise”. And finally to join his colleagues from the most right wing of the government, concluding: “I love him, and I support him.”