30 coalition lawmakers call on Netanyahu to update IDF’s code of ethics; move’s initiator says code ‘was written by extreme leftists’

Thirty coalition lawmakers co-sign a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling on him to reopen and update the military’s official code of ethics, known as the “spirit of the IDF,” in light of lessons learned during the past two-and-a-half years of war.

In the letter, the lawmakers argue that because the document is “a moral and ethical compass for IDF soldiers and commanders and profoundly influences the way decisions are made in both routine and emergency situations,” it is “to ensure that it faithfully reflects the core values of the IDF and the State of Israel, the changing security reality, and the lessons learned from recent fighting.”

“The events of the war raised complex command, ethical, and operational questions that require in-depth investigation,” it continues. As such, reopening it for a “professional” discussion “will strengthen the trust of the soldiers and commanders, deepen the sense of partnership, and ensure that the document will continue to serve as a milestone for future generations.”

An initiative of MK Zvi Sukkot, the letter is signed by MKs from his Religious Zionism party as well as lawmakers representing Otzma Yehudit, New Hope, Noam and Netanyahu’s own ruling Likud party. Among the signatories is former Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Yuli Edelstein.

In a statement, Sukkot argues that the military’s code of ethics was “written by extreme leftists” and “should have been changed long ago.”

“Over the years, senior officers have taken pride in risking the lives of IDF fighters in the name of ‘the spirit of the IDF’ and it is time to make it clear that moral values ​​place the lives of our fighters first,” he says.

Late last year, Sukkot was summoned for police questioning over a 2024 incident in which he broke into the IDF’s Sde Teiman base.