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.
