In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Israel's military and political leadership, high-ranking government officials are demanding disciplinary action against IDF Spokesperson Daniel Hagari after he publicly slammed a proposed security law as "very dangerous."
The extraordinary rebuke came from multiple cabinet members Thursday, with Defense Minister Israel Katz announcing he would launch "immediate disciplinary proceedings" against the military spokesman.
"This crosses a red line," Interior Minister Moshe Arbel said, blasting Hagari's unprecedented criticism of the controversial Feldstein Law. "No uniformed officer has any business publicly opposing political decisions."
In a scathing response, Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana insisted that "in a democracy, the military doesn't critique parliament through press conferences." The statement highlighted the growing rift between Israel's civilian and military leadership during wartime.
Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir accused Hagari of being influenced by what he called the "deep state," while Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich delivered perhaps the sharpest criticism: "Israel has an army, not the other way around."
The mounting criticism demonstrate the delicate balance between military and civilian authority in Israel, a dynamic that has become increasingly strained during the ongoing conflict with Hamas.
