The Eighth Front: When the Enemy Fires from Outside - and There Are Those Who Fire on Israel from Within | Dr. Eitan Lesri
Dr. Eitan Lesri argues that Israel is engaged in a war of consciousness, which he calls "the eighth front," parallel to the military campaign. He points to the award of the film "No Other Land" at the Venice Film Festival as an example of harm to the IDF's legitimacy, and calls for the establishment of a national system for psychological countermeasures and criminal enforcement against those who, in his view, aid the enemy's narrative.
Dr. Eitan Lesri argues in an opinion piece that Israel is engaged in a war of consciousness, which he calls "the eighth front," parallel to the military campaign. He points to the award of the film "No Other Land" with the Jury Prize at the Venice Film Festival as a severe example of harm to the IDF's legitimacy, noting that the IDF has defined central claims from the film as "an absolute lie." Lesri calls for distinguishing between legitimate criticism and activity that, in his view, serves the enemy's goals during wartime. He demands a criminal investigation of the film's creators and producers on suspicion of leaking classified materials, and the establishment of a national system for intelligence and psychological countermeasures under the Prime Minister's Office. The article accuses Israeli figures, including former politicians, of echoing false allegations that endanger soldiers, and calls for vigorous enforcement of the law against those who harm state security.