Netanyahu Blasts Haaretz For Calling IDF General Avi Bluth a Nazi
IDF Chief of Staff Slams Haaretz for Shocking Editorial Comparing General to Nazi
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A fiery controversy erupted today as IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir publicly condemned a Haaretz editorial that accused Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth of war crimes and likened him to a Nazi officer. The editorial, published in the left-leaning Israeli newspaper and edited by Anat Kam, previously convicted in 2011 for leaking classified IDF documents, has intensified tensions between Israel’s military leadership and segments of the media.
In a strongly worded statement, Zamir described the Haaretz piece as “shocking and inciting,” defending Bluth as a “moral and combat-tested officer” who has dedicated years to Israel’s security, particularly in Judea and Samaria. “Maj. Gen. Bluth is a first-rate officer who operates day and night for the safety of Israel and its citizens,” Zamir said. “The use of distorted imagery against him crosses every red line.” He reaffirmed the IDF’s commitment to combating terrorism in the region while upholding ethical standards, calling attempts to smear Bluth “utterly unacceptable.”
The controversy began when Haaretz’s editorial board, led by Kam, published a piece labeling Bluth a “general of blood” and alleging war crimes, claims echoed earlier by the paper’s publisher, Amos Schocken, who also branded Bluth a war criminal. The editorial drew particular ire for comparing Bluth’s actions to those of Nazi officers, a charge Zamir and supporters decried as both baseless and deeply offensive. The piece is part of what critics describe as a broader Haaretz campaign targeting Bluth, who oversees IDF operations in Judea and Samaria amid heightened counterterrorism efforts.
Adding fuel to the fire, government efforts to sever ties with Haaretz by halting state advertising in the newspaper were thwarted by Israel’s Attorney General, Gali Baharav-Miara. Ministers seeking to end government cooperation with the paper, including through the Government Advertising Agency, faced resistance when Baharav-Miara refused to defend the decision in court, citing legal concerns. This follows a separate controversy reported today, where the government moved to cut all ties with Haaretz after Schocken’s initial accusations against Bluth, only to be blocked by the Attorney General.
The Haaretz editorial has drawn polarized reactions: supporters argue it holds the military accountable, while critics, including Zamir, view it as dangerous incitement that undermines national security.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued a scathing rebuke, accusing Haaretz of fostering “relentless incitement” rather than free speech. In a strongly worded statement, Netanyahu rejected what he called “vile accusations” against Bluth and the settlers of Judea and Samaria, describing them as “antisemitic blood libels characteristic of our enemies worldwide.” He expressed full backing and support for Maj. Gen. Bluth and IDF soldiers who work daily to eradicate terrorism in Judea and Samaria, saying they do so with determination and uncompromising morality, and that “we all salute them.”
Neither Haaretz nor Kam has issued a public response to Zamir’s and Netanyahu's condemnations.
The IDF continues to allow Haaretz journalists access to its bases, despite calls from some ministers to restrict the paper’s privileges.