Israel news: Religious-Zionism rises in power over military and government, meets resistance from defense chief

With leaders of the national police, the Mossad spy org, and Shin Bet security service identified as Religious-Zionists, this year marks the rising influence of religious nationalists in Israeli military and government. Gadi Eisenkot, chief of general staff of Israel Defense Forces (IDF), resists this trend though, to keep a stately and united army.

In January, Eisenkot declared his agenda of removing the "Jewish Awareness" unit from the military ranks due to criticisms of religious and right-wing agenda inside the army. The said unit provides religious services, but there has been complaints that it pushes for an unconventional way in the battlefield. Israeli military and government used to be ruled by the secular and largely left-wing group, but recent years have seen the growing influence of new leaders who espouse both religion and nationalism. 

"The IDF is the people's army and includes a wide spectrum of Israeli society," Eisenkot wrote in a letter to the officers, as Reuters special report states.

"A change is needed with the aim of keeping the IDF a stately army in a democratic country, nurturing that which unites its soldiers," he added. Eisenkot was clear on IDF's mission and that army division caused by politics and religion can make the mission impossible to achieve.

Religious-Zionist leaders already appealed to the prime minister regarding this change. Even secular Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's governing coalition relies on this group for support. Many of his appointees and members of his inner circle are Religious-Zionists — an evidence that their representation has increased.

Secular Zionism differs from religious Zionism because the latter cares more for biblical settlements and historical claims, which at present are in conflict with the Palestinian claim of "home." This care is considered a religious obligation, especially in constructing the Jewish state.

It is this dominance of Religious-Zionists that will create a spark in the ensuing argument of dividing the land for the Palestinian state. Most Religious-Zionists do not favor giving Palestinians their territorial share.

In a related post by Jack Smith, an interpreter of end-times Biblical prophecies, a prophetic touch is seen to develop from this situation. Their increasing influence and numbers may trigger the near-civil war issue in Israel in the fight for the Promised Land.

History has witnessed the ongoing fight between Palestine and Israel for territory, from the Bible times until the present.