Israeli Politicsupdated 1h ago2 min read
IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir Orders Heightened Alert, Freezes Soldier Leave Ahead of October 27 Election
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Zamir ordered heightened alert and an army-wide leave freeze ahead of Oct 27 election. IDF boosts forces, especially in the West Bank, amid preparations.
6 outlets told this the same way.
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Alert, leave freeze
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered heightened military readiness ahead of Israel’s October 27 election, including a suspension of planned leave for soldiers.
Zamir held a security assessment with senior military officers on Monday morning and stressed that the IDF’s mission was to enable the democratic elections to take place on schedule and safely, according to an official statement.
Zamir said the military is “on the highest state of alert and will continue to maintain a high level of vigilance and readiness across all fronts” in the days ahead.
Beginning Thursday, soldiers across IDF units will be subject to a freeze on leave, requiring them to remain at their bases rather than take scheduled time off, and the order will remain in effect “subject to ongoing situational assessments.”
Zamir also directed the military to increase the number of senior officers present in command centers “to ensure operational readiness and capability.”
West Bank reinforcements
Zamir reinforced Central Command, which oversees the West Bank, with additional forces including personnel from the Paratroopers Brigade headquarters and other units to strengthen the deployment in the area and increase the presence on the ground. The IDF said the Paratroopers Brigade headquarters will establish a dedicated task force headquarters in the area between the Samaria and Binyamin regional brigades. Zamir ordered additional forces to be assigned to other operational sectors “according to operational needs, in the air, at sea and on land,” while the IDF prepared polling stations at military bases and outposts.
The IDF set to begin deploying at least 850 polling stations tomorrow at military bases and outposts across the country and beyond Israel’s borders, and those stations will remain open through October 27. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released another video from an Air Force base, warning that “We have the readiness, determination and capability to strike our enemies the moment it becomes necessary.”
Election integrity and politics
IDF Elections Officer Col. Vered Ben Yehuda assured the military’s commitment to letting every soldier vote in the upcoming elections, writing that “We must all act to ensure that every service member can exercise their right to vote.”
Ben Yehuda added that it was her responsibility and duty, as IDF commanders, “to facilitate the democratic electoral process.”
B’Yachad party chairman Naftali Bennett condemned the leave restrictions, saying that they placed an undue burden on already-overworked IDF soldiers and arguing, “We must not allow career service members who want to keep serving to be forced to leave.”
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Hamas against attempting attacks ahead of Israel’s October 27 Knesset election, saying Israel would thwart such efforts and respond with “tremendous force” if the terrorist organization tried to influence the vote.
Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) Director David Zini warned ministers that Hamas could seek to kidnap soldiers near election time, as the IDF maintained its highest level of alert.