Israel's outgoing army chief rebukes far-right government

Israel's outgoing army chief on Friday warned against plans by Benjamin Netanyahu’s new coalition to grant more control to pro-settler lawmakers and make other changes to the Israeli security establishment, in the worsening of ongoing abuses against Palestinians.

In several interviews with Israeli news outlets just days before he steps down, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi took unusually sharp aim at Netanyahu's coalition agreements with hard-line Jewish settler activists who seek to entrench Israeli rule in the occupied West Bank, restructure the Defense Ministry and control a special paramilitary police unit.

"This is likely to cause damage and adversely affect our preparedness for war," Kochavi told the Israeli news site Ynet.

While the coalition deals have sparked furor from many segments of Israeli society, Kochavi's worries have deep significance. Among Jewish Israelis, the military is considered an emblem of stability and among the country’s most trusted institutions.

Kochavi expressed particular concern about the coalition's plans to create three separate sources of authority in the West Bank. Netanyahu's deal with Bezalel Smotrich gave the powerful, far-right finance minister control over an Israeli military body that regulates planning for Israeli settlements and Palestinian construction in parts of the West Bank where Israel maintains civilian control.

Smotrich is an advocate of the outright annexation of parts of the West Bank that the Palestinians want for their hoped-for independent state.

"There cannot be two commanding authorities (in the West Bank)," Kochavi said. "The separation between us is not good and may cause damage and lead to a worse situation for all populations."

"Netanyahu's government pledged in late December to 'Judaise' the Galilee and the Negev by providing land discounts and other benefits to Jewish citizens."

How Israel's new far-right government will cement a reality of apartheid for Palestinians ⬇ https://t.co/bqTmmf5pGz

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) January 12, 2023

Israel captured the West Bank in 1967 along with the Gaza Strip and East Jerusalem - territory the Palestinians seek for a future state. Israel has constructed dozens of Jewish settlements hosting 500,000 Israelis. The West Bank's 2.5 million Palestinians suffer routine abuses by occupying Israeli forces and settlers. Most of the international community considers these settlements illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians.

Another move that Kochavi fears could undermine the army’s chain of command in the West Bank stems from Netanyahu's agreement with Itamar Ben-Gvir, a far-right lawmaker whose his views were so extreme that the army banned him from compulsory military service.

As national security minister, Ben-Gvir has been given authority over the paramilitary border police, which, until now, has worked under the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank.

"The work that the border police is doing in Judea and Samaria [the occupied West Bank] is excellent and I hope that the situation remains just as it is today. The chain of authority must be maintained," Kochavi said, referring to the West Bank by its biblical name.

In other interviews, Kochavi said he called Netanyahu twice to warn him about the far-reaching consequences of the coalition's moves for the cohesion of the defense establishment.

Netanyahu has sought to assure the public — as well as the U.S. and Israel's European and Arab allies — that he has veto power over any changes that the far-right ministers make. But critics say he has so far failed to restrain his coalition partners.

After serving nearly four years as chief of staff, Kochavi is set to hand over the reins to Maj. Gen. Herzi Halevi next week.

Israel's previous governments have also been accused of massive rights abuses, including the eviction of Palestinians from their homes, killings thousands of civilians in the bombing of Gaza, and launching a devastating siege on the coastal enclave.