Ladies and gentlemen, former Mossad, retired IDF, ministers, investigators and bar strategists, have the decency to remain silent while our soldiers fight.
Raphaël Jerusalmy ■ Former Israeli military intelligence officer, Author of “Evacuation” at Acte Sud.
Since the documentary “The Gatekeepers”, filmed in 2013, where six retired Mossad and Shin Beth chiefs decided to vent their feelings, it has become permissible, not to say fashionable, to express in public. As if the public had the tools, training and knowledge necessary to understand the issues, assess security threats and decide the best way to deal with them. Since letting people speak became admissible, we have lost count of the number of leaks, slip-ups, and twisted tongues. Ministers have boasted more than once, on their
Many political and media figures have “leaked” information, expressed their informed opinion, openly taken the IDF high command or the head of the Shin Beth to task, giving an image of chaos and discord that our enemies consider to be a sign of deterioration, a letting down of guard. They see it as a breach of security discipline. And they rejoice at the breaches which crack the national cement of union and solidarity which has always been Israel's strength.
Experts in communication and psychosociology are working today on writing messages and signals intended to impress or deceive the enemy. As a result, no one knows whether a seemingly untimely statement from an IDF general is sincere and spontaneous or carefully orchestrated by specialists in psychological warfare. Unfortunately, these same methods of manipulating information and exploiting communication channels are used, not to influence the enemy, but Israeli or even world public opinion.
It is clear that relations between the government and the security and defense forces are today at their lowest. Politicians are showing a loss of confidence in the military, on whom they place full responsibility for the tragedy of October 7. The military, in turn, distrusts leaders and political agendas which sometimes hinder the conduct of a campaign on a strategic level. It has reached the point where the Prime Minister's Office is considering creating an intelligence commission independent of the secret services, composed of members who must never have served in Mossad or Shin Beth, not even in military intelligence. This commission will be supposed to play devil's advocate when there already exists a department playing this same role within the IDF intelligence service. Disagreements arise far too often, with the latest result being the dismissal of Defense Minister Yoav Galant while the country is at war. And all this dirty laundry is washed in broad daylight!
At the same time, an investigation of unprecedented seriousness is being carried out into procedures emanating from the Prime Minister's office. Processes that endanger secret agents on the ground and reveal what Israel knows or does not know about its enemies. Civic movements and the media have demanded that the Court of Justice lift censorship on this extremely sensitive matter, when it is obvious that the publication of the details of the case will harm the country's defense for years. future. Why bring these allegations out into the open? This undermines the proper conduct of the investigation. And above all, the price to pay for this right of scrutiny is irreparable harm caused to the hard work of IDF commanders and Mossad or Shin Beth agents, especially in times of war. This is an irresponsible act.
In times of war, these same commanders and agents must enjoy the absolute discretion that is required from the media, citizens, parliamentarians and even members of the government. Ladies and gentlemen, former Mossad, retired IDF, ministers of this or that, investigators and bar strategists, have the decency to remain silent while our soldiers fight. Protect them with your silence. Return to the great tradition which has always given Israel the advantage when it comes to security and defense and whose watchword is: Shut your mouth.
