Katz joins condemnations of Haaretz op-ed: ‘Antisemitic incitement’

Defense Minister Israel Katz joins IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in condemning Haaretz over its criticism of Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, calling it a “despicable blood libel” and “antisemitic incitement.”

Firebrand Haaretz columnist Gideon Levy castigated Bluth as a “general of bloodshed” and a “war criminal,” and called him an “uberkommandant,” an apparent reference to a Nazi-style military rank.

In a statement, Katz says he “fully backs” Bluth and all IDF commanders and soldiers operating in the West Bank, praising their efforts to defend Israeli settlers and safeguard the country’s security. He noted that their operations have led to an 80% drop in terror attacks in the West Bank and “saved many lives.”

That figure appears to refer to an IDF and Shin Bet report from April, which noted that during Ramadan this year there were only three major attacks originating from the West Bank, compared to 27 last year — an 80% decrease. Security forces also arrested 401 wanted suspects, eliminated 13 gunmen and seized 105 weapons during the same period.

“The attempt by Haaretz to smear him and the IDF… serves enemy propaganda and weakens the fight against terror,” Katz says. “The IDF is the shield of the Jewish people, and no hostile element, inside or out, will be allowed to undermine its legitimacy or the justice of our cause.”