Sunday Jul 20, 2025
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Israel
    • Israel at War
    • Middle East
    • United States
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Commentary

This Passover, we should not let anyone divide us

The Amalekites' historical attack following the Exodus parallels modern efforts to undermine an embattled IDF battalion through internal Israeli division.

by  Ariel Kahana
Published on  04-22-2024 09:05
Last modified: 04-22-2024 09:05
This Passover, we should not let anyone divide usOren Cohen

An ultra-Orthodox IDF soldier | Photo: Oren Cohen

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The narrative of the Exodus, which we are about to commemorate, culminates with the ambush that the Amalekites orchestrated against the Israelites after their departure from Egypt. Amalek, which according to Jewish tradition epitomizes absolute evil, employed a strategic approach. It did not engage in direct warfare with Israel but rather "attacked among you all the stragglers at your rear," targeting the elderly and the vulnerable who lagged behind.

This modus operandi underpins the fervent endeavors of anti-Israeli organizations and their supporters within the American administration to impose sanctions specifically on the IDF's Netzah Yehuda Battalion. This unit is permanently stationed in Judea and Samaria, resulting in more friction with Arab civilians than other units. Furthermore, a significant portion of its soldiers have disassociated themselves from the ultra-Orthodox communities in which they were raised, are classified as "lone soldiers," and are detached from their broader societal context.

A soldier is a soldier

The top IDF leadership has never publicly defended the Netzah Yehudah Battalion, despite its vast operational contributions. Former commander of the Kfir Brigade (the battalion's parent unit), Brig. Gen. (res.) Asher Ben Lulu provided an apt characterization of the battalion's challenging circumstances. He likened its situation to the dystopian depiction in "The Handmaid's Tale," stating that it has endured "22 years of uninterrupted service in the simmering hearts of terror, few training exercises, little equipment. Last in the food chain."

The constant vilification in the media against the "Haredi battalion" has contributed to its poor public perception, despite its immense operational successes over the years. Those who identified this vulnerability were the DAWN organization and elements within the State Department, who have been working for several years to incriminate IDF forces under the pretext of "war crimes," as revealed by NGO Monitor. It is worth recalling that one of the organization's senior figures transitioned directly from a position at the State Department to DAWN and acknowledged that while working for the government, he received information from the group.

For those seeking to undermine Israel, it is clear that they cannot begin by condemning Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or Minister Benny Gantz. Therefore, they first target the more vulnerable segments within Israeli society. Initially, it was the "settlers" who faced sanctions, and now it is the "Haredim."

These two groups are already subjected to public scrutiny, and the center is unlikely to defend them, or so the assumption goes. Therefore, the process of de-legitimization of the IDF and Israel must commence with these groups. This approach has indeed proven successful with regard to right-wing activists in Judea and Samaria, as the financial punishment against them was met with indifference in Israel, which is regrettable.

However, regarding Netzah Yehuda, the lesson has been learned. The Israeli consensus drew a clear line on Sunday when, after Netanyahu, Gantz, former IDF chief Gadi Eizenkot, and Opposition Leader Yair Lapid (during whose tenure as foreign minister the incidents that prompted complaints from the United States occurred) also made it clear that a soldier is a soldier, regardless of their background. Only Labor Party leader Merav Michaeli stood, as usual, off to the site.

This unified stance by Netanyahu's rivals is crucial. Because if there is one factor that could potentially halt the decision, which has not yet been officially announced, against Netzah Yehuda, it is an Israeli consensus. This is the breach through which Israel's enemies attempted to dismantle it from within.

Exploiting internal division

This unified move is of paramount importance. For no less than the anarchists (it is unclear why Israel allows them to move freely in the area), the Iranians, Hamas, and Hezbollah are also counting on an internal Israeli collapse as a lever for victory over it. Unlike the Western Israeli mentality, which seeks immediate answers, they hope that the factionalism typical of Jews will gradually consume us from within.

Therefore, if there is one lesson we must remember, especially this Passover, it is that we must not allow Amalek to divide us from within. This unity is the key to victory.

Related Posts

The front less looked atOren Ben Hakoon

Stop hiding behind the Torah

by Zina Rakhamilova

Torah study and national duty are not mutually exclusive, and it’s long past time for the broader Haredi community to...

Israel's nightmare scenario begins in SyriaAFP

Israel's nightmare scenario begins in Syria

by Yoav Limor

Events over the past week reveal that Syria, and the wider region to Israel's east, is dangerously unstable. Israel must...

Israel's Syrian march of follySyrian Presidency / AFP; Haim Goldberg/Flash90; Ali Haj Suleiman/Getty Images

Israel's Syrian march of folly

by Ariel Kahana

In his eight months of rule, Syria's al-Julani has taken a series of positive steps toward Israel, including canceling the...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Israel at War
    • Israel
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il