With many criticisms, Bennett denounces the “politicization” of the death of the border guard

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Prime Minister Naftali Bennett on Sunday condemned MPs and opposition activists who criticized the military after the death last week of a Border Police sniper, who was fatally injured during a riot along the Gaza border last month.

“I want to send a clear message from here to [soldiers] and all Israeli citizens: I fully support the IDF commanders and their soldiers, ”Bennett said at the opening of the cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister’s Office in Jerusalem.

“The Israeli army protects us all year round. Our job is to protect the IDF, ”he said. “Some are trying to use the IDF as a club to advance cynical political goals. It hurts our resilience and it is inappropriate. Stop that.”

Barel Hadaria Shmueli was shot in the head at close range by a Palestinian gunman on August 21 and succumbed to his injuries just over a week later.

His family, along with right-wing activists and opposition lawmakers, accused the military of issuing overly restrictive rules of engagement which they say prevented troops from removing rioters from the fence. border. Shmueli’s father suggested that Prime Minister Naftali Bennett resign following the incident, her mother said she did not trust the government or the military, and the family rejected the IDF investigation, demanding an independent investigation.

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The IDF denied any open-air fire regulations were to blame – noting that Shmueli himself shot the rioters as they rushed to the border – and said what was at issue was the way the troops were deployed.

Border police officer Barel Shmueli who was seriously injured in a shooting at the Gaza border on August 21, 2021. He died of his injuries on August 30. (Borders police)

Bennett said on Sunday: “As someone who knows the battlefield and has commanded soldiers, and as someone who has lost the best of his comrades, I know that while making decisions at the operational level, there are sometimes has mistakes, and sometimes they are painful and difficult.

“It is like that when you fight the enemy, and the soldiers and the commanders must be supported, especially when there are mistakes,” said the prime minister.

Bennett’s comments come a day after IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi issued a highly unusual letter calling on the public to support the military amid criticism.

A society that does not support its soldiers and commanders, including when they make mistakes, will find that it has no one to fight for it, Kohavi wrote in his letter, which was addressed to military commanders.

Referring to the IDF’s investigation into Shmuelis’ death, Kohavi noted that during combat, decisions are usually made in situations of uncertainty, and quickly; So there is always the possibility that mistakes will be made. It was the IDF’s obligation to thoroughly investigate, find out the truth and learn from it, but errors in judgment on the battlefield are not to be blamed and punished, Kohavi said.

“Commanders and soldiers, you have my full support. Continue to initiate and take responsibility, to dare and bear the consequences, he wrote.

Kohavi visited the Shmueli family to offer their condolences on Sunday.

In response to Kohavi’s letter, Bennett called the army and senior officers of the IDF Southern Command and assured them they had his support.

“I want you to know it and everyone in uniform to know it: my support for the IDF commanders is total and complete. Whenever there is a battle, there are mistakes. Sometimes they’re tragic, ”Bennett said.

A coffin carrying the body of border police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli during a funeral in Tel Aviv on August 30, 2021. Shmueli died nine days after being shot in the head during riots at the Gaza border. (Police spokesperson)

In a statement, the prime minister said the “heartache for the whole country” over Shmueli’s death was “enormous”, and added that her family had the right to say whatever they wanted.

“The family can do anything. It’s our job to give answers, to listen and to embrace, ”he said.

However, Bennett condemned lawmakers and opposition activists who joined in criticism of the family. I expect politicians and public figures not to touch the IDF and its commanders. We don’t have another IDF, he said.

On Friday, the IDF released the first findings of its investigation into Shmueli’s death, blaming him primarily on how troops were deployed along the Gaza border fence during the riot.

The army’s investigation found that the commander of the northern Gaza brigade may have been slow to respond when rioters rushed against the fence. It was only after the masses reached the barrier that he ordered soldiers stationed further away to take positions closer to the border, where they could repel rioters more effectively, according to the survey.

The IDF investigation discovered that Shmueli himself had fired a number of shots during the riot along the fence, which reinforced the belief that the open fire regulations were not a problem.

The findings of the IDF investigation were presented to Shmueli’s family on Friday morning by IDF southern command chief Major General Eliezer Toledano. His family rejected the military investigation and demanded an independent investigation, blaming his death on the government.

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