JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In a decision which angered many religious Zionists in Israel, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the Chief of Staff, Herzi Halevi, decided that Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter (53), who has been in the military for a year and a half without a position, would be discharged from the IDF.
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According to Yediot Aharonot, after Winter, a former Givati Brigade and Commando Brigade commander, was not included in the recent round of senior IDF appointments announced last Thursday, he will be summoned along with other senior officers at the rank of brigadier general who were not promoted and they will be notified of the IDF’s intention to retire them.
The decision to discharge Winter was explained by the fact that since September 2022, when he undertook academic studies after finishing his previous command position – no other role was found for him.
The Defense Minister and the Chief of Staff’s associates said that it is not correct to keep an officer in such a professional and ethical situation, as it involves public funds wastage.
Religious Zionist elements claim that Winter’s outstanding record and the fact that he was not responsible in any way for the October 7th massacre should have led to his immediate promotion. However during the 2014 Protective Edge campaign, Winter, a proudly religious soldier, was attacked by Israel’s leftist media after issuing a Commander’s Battle Order that was rife with Biblical references:
“History has chosen us to be at the forefront of the fight against the terrorist enemy in Gaza, who insults and blasphemes the God of Israel. I raise my eyes to heaven and recite with you, ‘Hear oh Israel, the Lord Is our God, the Lord Is one.’ The God of Israel, grant us success as we are going to fight for your people Israel against an enemy that sullies Your name.”
Religious Zionism Chairman and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, blasted the decision to release Winter from the IDF:
“Is it clear now why the commanders who failed must not shape the future generation of the army? One of the first lessons from 10/7 should have been the immediate appointment of Ofer Winter to the senior command so that he would introduce offensive propensities and intellectual sharpness to the IDF. The fact that he is removed from the army after proving himself under fire is outrageous and is a step in the opposite direction of what the IDF needs.”
In a recent interview with Arutz Sheva – Israel National News, Major General (res.) Yitzhak Brik, the ombudsman who warned of IDF weaknesses before Oct. 7th, noted that Winter was an outstanding officer and that there was no clear reason for delaying his promotion.
“I have accompanied Ofer Winter for years. Every role he held was performed excellently. In his last role, he was the commander of the northern sector of the Gaza Division for several years before the war. I did a tour then of all our forces to learn from the field. I came to him for a full day, heard how he operates his people”, Brik recounted.
He added, “After that, I told him to stay in the office and that I would go down to the soldiers without him to hear how they feel about their commander. I have never heard such praise from every level of subordinate. They all said that he cared for them on a daily basis and on a detailed level.
“For Winter, every rustle, every whisper that was important, any hint that there was a risk something would happen, he would have people on alert. If he were the Southern Command chief – there would have been no war. If he had heard what the observers say and heard all the scenarios of that day and the approach of Hamas to the fence, the entire army would have been on its feet. They would not have penetrated,” claimed Brik.
“Their problem with him is that he’s ‘a thorn’. He tells the truth. They don’t like to hear the truth. They are a clique that goes together, one holding the hand of the other, and he is outside the clique, telling the truth. In the eyes of the clique, Hamas is deterred, and he presented problems to that assertion.”
The seculars complain that the Charadim do NOT want to join the IDF. Can you blame them?
Here is a religious Dati Leumi man who was booted for no fault other that he was NOT secular enough to suit their perverted standards.
An anti-religious army might be an army of Jews, but it will never be an army of the Jews. This is unacceptable.
This is a classic example of being labeled a “kotz b’Tachat” for speaking EMES. Saying what needs to be heard, however the ones needing to hear the truth refuse to listen and punish those who raise their voice. As a combat vetern & law enforcement officer, I can say with alacrity that when an officer shows true leadership & exhibits care & respect for those under their command, the troops will follow their leader. Gen Winter is the shining example of what the IDF needs to be exemplary. Those who stand against Gen Winter do so out of fear that their inadiquicies will be brought to light. B”EH we need more leaders like Gen Winter. Stand Tall Stand Proud, Semper FI.
and they want the mir guys to join?
Those mofos are clearly signaling that there is no career whatsoever for Torah-observant Jew in this army. Stay an serve in Yeshiva.
Not because he’s religious, but because he isn’t part of the leftist elite military clique and doesn’t think like them.
WE JEWS CAN RELY ON NO ONE EXCEPT ON OUR FATHR IN HEAVEN.
Israel retiring Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, does so, at her own peril c”v !!!!!
Before reaching conclusions, kindly recall that Ofer Winter was reprimanded in 2021 for operating outside the chain of command. This is not really acceptable in military circles. The new Major General designate of the Central Command, Avi Blot, wears a Kippah.