We have recently witnessed a disturbing escalation in media attacks by members of the Knesset and government ministers on senior security establishment officials – IDF generals, the Chief of Staff, the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the head of the Mossad, the police commissioner, and other high-ranking officers. These attacks include allegations of “softness” and political bias, casting doubt on the professional integrity and motives of these senior figures. As such, they inflict serious damage on Israel's national security, since they undermine their public standing, which may even affect their effectiveness. All of this at a time when the external security threats are mounting, and the internal crisis underway in Israel in the past half year is looming large on the preparedness of the IDF, and even on its fighting capability.
Furthermore, these public allegations are cowardly and misdirected: the law precludes officers in the security agencies from defending themselves against these attacks, certainly not publicly – those that are supposed to do the job are their superiors, that is, the ministers in charge. Thus, if Knesset members wish to criticize the head of the Shin Bet or of the Mossad, fine, but they should direct their criticism to the Prime Minister, who holds the ministerial responsibility for those agencies. The PM and only the PM should be the address for any allegations of the sort, and it would be better still if such criticisms were voiced behind closed doors, not publicly.
The same applies to allegations against IDF officers – these should be addressed exclusively to the Defense Minister, and not leveled against the officers themselves (to the DM's credit, he has consistently provided unequivocal support to the targeted officials). Furthermore, these attacks often border on defamation of a public servant, which constitutes a criminal offense (punishable by six months' imprisonment). However, the Knesset members who pounce on the security officials hide conveniently behind their parliamentary immunity and the inability of the security personnel to defend themselves.
In the face of this grim reality, we must say out loud to our senior security establishment, on behalf of all who hold Israel's security dear: "We are with you, we immensely value your tireless dedication to our security, and we understand and deeply regret your undeserved predicament. Do not lose heart in the face of these vicious attacks, you are our ‘Iron Dome’ against threats from without as much as from within.”
We have recently witnessed a disturbing escalation in media attacks by members of the Knesset and government ministers on senior security establishment officials – IDF generals, the Chief of Staff, the head of the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet), the head of the Mossad, the police commissioner, and other high-ranking officers. These attacks include allegations of “softness” and political bias, casting doubt on the professional integrity and motives of these senior figures. As such, they inflict serious damage on Israel's national security, since they undermine their public standing, which may even affect their effectiveness. All of this at a time when the external security threats are mounting, and the internal crisis underway in Israel in the past half year is looming large on the preparedness of the IDF, and even on its fighting capability.
Furthermore, these public allegations are cowardly and misdirected: the law precludes officers in the security agencies from defending themselves against these attacks, certainly not publicly – those that are supposed to do the job are their superiors, that is, the ministers in charge. Thus, if Knesset members wish to criticize the head of the Shin Bet or of the Mossad, fine, but they should direct their criticism to the Prime Minister, who holds the ministerial responsibility for those agencies. The PM and only the PM should be the address for any allegations of the sort, and it would be better still if such criticisms were voiced behind closed doors, not publicly.
The same applies to allegations against IDF officers – these should be addressed exclusively to the Defense Minister, and not leveled against the officers themselves (to the DM's credit, he has consistently provided unequivocal support to the targeted officials). Furthermore, these attacks often border on defamation of a public servant, which constitutes a criminal offense (punishable by six months' imprisonment). However, the Knesset members who pounce on the security officials hide conveniently behind their parliamentary immunity and the inability of the security personnel to defend themselves.
In the face of this grim reality, we must say out loud to our senior security establishment, on behalf of all who hold Israel's security dear: "We are with you, we immensely value your tireless dedication to our security, and we understand and deeply regret your undeserved predicament. Do not lose heart in the face of these vicious attacks, you are our ‘Iron Dome’ against threats from without as much as from within.”