Ex-general slams leftist group that criticizes IDF abroad

Former National Security Adviser Maj. Gen. (ret.) Yaakov Amidror told Israel Hayom on Monday that the Breaking the Silence organization -- which brings together veteran soldiers dedicated to exposing alleged mistreatment of Palestinians by the IDF -- is damaging Israel.

According to Amidror, because the group collects testimonies and publicizes them abroad, rather than bringing complaints of misdeeds to the IDF, the military is unable to investigate the claims.

"My opinion on the matter is similar to that of Maj. Gen. (ret.) Amiram Levin, though his interpretation is different from mine," said Amidror, referencing the former general who recently took out a newspaper ad supporting the organization, but adding that its testimonies and complaints should be aired within the country and within the IDF.

"If Breaking the Silence were to create a mechanism to transfer [cases] to the IDF, a mechanism that would allow soldiers to complain, but not through the system, which they are sometimes afraid to do -- it would be one thing," Amidror continued.

"The problem here is that instead of transferring the testimonies to the IDF, they transfer them to the world, and there is no way to look into what they're saying."

He added that "they are damaging the country without bringing about any benefits. If they were simply 'breaking the silence,' I wouldn't have a problem with them. The problem is not with breaking the silence, but with spreading libel."

Regarding the group's funding, he said, "The fact that some of the organization's funding passes through a Palestinian center in Ramallah means that this source of funding must have some kind of direct or indirect influence [on the group]."

Breaking the Silence created a video to rebuff claims that the organization is causing damage to the country abroad. In the video, they explain that the Yesha Council also operates outside of Israel.

CEO of right-wing group Im Tirtzu, Matan Peleg, responded to the criticism of Breaking the Silence, saying, "Society has woken up and is breaking the silence in the face of incitement."

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