What’s happening:

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) has provoked outrage with its latest drill, simulating a scenario wherein settlers purportedly kidnap Palestinians. This controversial exercise has been met with stark criticism from several settler leaders and high-ranking officials who have called it highly offensive and detrimental to the image of Israeli settlers.

Why it matters:

The exercise’s conception collides with the delicate relationship between the IDF and the settlers, often active servicemen themselves. The negative portrayal of settlers adds fuel to contentious debates on settler ethics and activities, while it also escalates political scrutiny over the IDF’s training practices and priorities.

The controversy:

During the routine IDF Central Command exercise deployed to test the response of forces to various attack scenarios, participants mimicked the kidnapping of Palestinians, identifying themselves as the ‘enemy force’. The exercise prompted far-right nationalists and prominent settler figures to request immediate punitive action against its creators, condemning it as indicative of misplaced focus and a perpetuation of harmful stereotypes.

Political response:

National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called the drill a “blood libel”, criticizing the notion that settlers would conduct such abductions. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich termed the IDF high command’s conduct as showing a “total loss of moral compass”.

The IDF’s stance:

The IDF clarified that they had simulated “more than 100 different scenarios” and emphasized that the use of labels such as ‘enemy force’ was a procedural error not realizing the sensitivities, and sincerely regretted by the army. According to the military, its operations stay tightly aligned with securing and working in concert with the settler population.

What’s next:

Following the condemnation by the fervent Israel supporters, an internal IDF inquiry may assess the propriety and perception around such training simulations, along with potential adjustments about them. This unrest necessitates a balancing act within the IDF, attempting to prepare for realistic threats while firmly upholding a sense of solidarity and support for the settler communities.

Comments on the issue:

Public reactions highlight deep-set concerns about narratives framing Israeli settlers, which is especially impactful given the contentious socio-political climate surrounding West Bank settlements. Community leaders advocate that the role and sacrifice of settlers serving in the military ought not to be undermined by characterizing them as threats within military exercises.

This story was first published on ynetnews.com.