Bennett refuses to apologize for saying MAG preventing soldiers from carrying out their duties

The office of Jewish Home chairman Naftali Bennett says he will not apologize for saying that the army’s Military Advocate General prevents soldiers from carrying out their fighting duties, despite criticism from the IDF chief of staff.

“He does not intend to apologize for or retract his remarks,” a party spokesperson says. “He believes that we are making ourselves jump through excess legal hoops, and this harms both operations and fighters.”

During a speech in which he reneged on his ultimatum to resign from the government if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not appoint him defense minister, Bennett complained that the army was too concerned with the legalities of war to fight properly, saying, “Our warriors are more worried about the military advocate general than about [Hamas leader] Yahya Sinwar in Gaza.”

The comment drew rare criticism of a politician from the IDF’s chief of staff, Lt. Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, who opened Monday’s meeting with the army’s general staff by backing Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Sharon Afek.

— Raoul Wootliff