The Goldfus bombshell: Why did the IDF general take shots at Israeli politicians? - comment

• Published date: 14 March 2024
• Author: YONAH JEREMY BOB
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

In two months, he destroyed most of Hamas's fighting capability as a national military organization in the South

He is considered by both the army and most media outlets to be one of the true war heroes and one of the IDF's most creative, domineering, and implacable commanders.

Goldfus is also viewed as having a certain stoicism. Whether under real enemy fire or the "fire" of aggressive journalists, he can remain calm and put his personal views aside, which is not a given.

This understanding makes his speech on Wednesday night all the more bizarre and appalling. Goldfus unleashed an onslaught on Israel's political class in the last minute of an otherwise very carefully crafted - and pre-approved - speech.

Firm believer in equally carrying the burden.

He did not ask but rather demanded that the political class conduct themselves in a way that honors and is worthy of the sacrifice of the many soldiers he has lost under his command. He demanded that they ensure that the entire country (i.e., including haredim - ultra-Orthodox Jews) served equally in the military so that his fallen soldiers' sacrifice would not be disrespected. Finally, he demanded that the political class work on policy and tone that would unite, not divide, the country.

Goldfus briefed me three times during the war, including one time on the front lines. I was also embedded with his commando units in Khan Yunis during the height of the fighting in December.

Although he is originally South African, you cannot tell he is not a native Hebrew speaker. He culturally comes off as the quintessential Israeli: daring and fearless. He answers questions crisply without being overly loquacious and gets to the point in a hurry.

One thing I did notice, though, was that he has little patience for nonsense.

Reporters can miss things that can only be gleaned from someone fresh off the battlefield. This creates a gap that, for someone fighting so resolutely in constantly life-risking conditions, can feel disconnected and be tiresome.

Not that Goldfus snapped when he lost patience with us; if anything, he went deeper into a stoic state, striking an even greater contrast. He physically stepped back, brought his hands to his sides as if signaling a willingness to hold back, and slowed down his speech as if using his body to do one large eye-roll – instead of snapping.

Even when he demanded a few items from the political class, he kept his demands to issues with a relatively large consensus. He did not hint at...