Ben Gvir wants to change the spirit of the IDF – and launched a massive operation among soldiers

Activists from Otzma Yehudit launched a widespread distribution campaign of Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's plan to change the IDF's code of ethics, which includes replacing the value of "Purity of Arms" with "Righteousness of Arms" and defining victory as a central goal.

Activists from the Otzma Yehudit party launched a widespread distribution campaign across the country today (Sunday), distributing tens of thousands of copies of the plan by party chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir to change the IDF's code of ethics, "Ruach Tzahal." The plan, which Ben Gvir presented last week ahead of a possible term as Defense Minister, includes significant changes to the army's core values. The main change is the cancellation of the value of "Purity of Arms" and its replacement with a new value called "Righteousness of Arms," which includes the halachic rule "If someone comes to kill you, rise up and kill him first." The plan seeks to remove from the code of ethics the wording that force should be used "only to the extent necessary," and to omit the explicit prohibition on harming "non-combatants." Additionally, the plan states that the IDF strives solely for victory and the defeat of Israel's enemies, and seeks to enshrine in the code of ethics the values of the Bible, Jewish law, and the tradition of Israel, while removing references to "universal moral values." The article does not include a response from the IDF or other official bodies.