Thirty Israeli ministers and Knesset members sent a formal letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding he establish a committee to review and update the IDF’s ethical code, known as the “Spirit of the IDF” document, to align the military’s values with current realities and the state’s identity.
The letter, initiated by Knesset Member Tzvi Succot of the Religious Zionism party, has drawn broad support and is signed by lawmakers including Simcha Rothman, Yuli Edelstein, Tally Gotliv, Deputy Minister Almog Cohen, and Avi Maoz.
The push comes against the backdrop of public controversy over integrating women into the Armored Corps and remarks by Professor Asa Kasher, who called the “Messiah” insignia on soldiers’ uniforms a “despicable symbol.”
According to the letter, the current war has created a new reality that requires updating the military’s moral compass. “The ‘Spirit of the IDF’ document serves as a values and moral compass for IDF soldiers and commanders, and profoundly influences decision-making processes both in routine and emergency situations,” the lawmakers wrote to Netanyahu. “Precisely because of its centrality, it’s important to ensure it faithfully reflects the foundational values of the IDF and the State of Israel, the changing security reality, and the lessons learned from recent battles.”
The signatories emphasize that events of the war “have raised complex command, ethical, and operational questions that require honest, open, and thorough examination.” They argue that reopening the document will help strengthen trust between fighters and commanders and ensure the ethical code continues to serve as a relevant cornerstone for future generations.
The initiative is designed to address first and foremost the absence of “the value of victory” from the current Spirit of the IDF document. The initiative’s sponsors are demanding the document be updated so that the aspiration for victory and defeating the enemy are defined as supreme and leading values in military operations.