Questions Being Asked: Army and Politicians
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The Pipeline From the Military to Politics
INTRODUCTION
Note to educator: This introductory discussion explores the significant number of Israeli military leaders who enter politics after retiring from the IDF. The discussion encourages learners to consider why so many high-ranking Israeli military leaders enter politics and why they often become popular civilian leaders.
Show learners the two graphics below:
Ask learners:
- What are your reflections on these graphics?
- Why do you think so many IDF leaders enter politics? What do you think the connection between the military and politics says about the place of the IDF in Israeli society?
- Why do you think Israelis vote for former military leaders?
YITZHAK RABIN
Note to educator: This activity explores the life and legacy of Yitzhak Rabin. The activity focuses on Rabin’s transition from military commander to political leader: how did these roles change his outlook and priorities? Or, do the different roles reflect his changing outlook and priorities?
OPENING ACTIVITY
Frame the next activities as follows:
We will explore the lives of two army generals who later became prime ministers: Yitzhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon. Throughout, consider how Rabin and Sharon evolved from military leaders to political leaders: how did they change when they shifted from being military generals to political leaders? How and when did they remain firm in their convictions? In addition, consider why you think these leaders became popular politicians.
Begin by playing this video which offers an overview of Rabin’s life and legacy.
Ask learners:
- What are your reflections on the video?
- Why do you think Rabin became a popular political figure after his military service?
- What do you think about Rabin’s transition from military leader to peace activist?
Note to educator: Being a part of the military does not necessarily make someone a “hawk.” The choice is not a binary between military service and peace activism. This conversation is expanded upon in the concluding discussion below.
- Do you think Israelis were surprised? What factors do you think could have contributed to this transition?
DISCUSSION
Next, before providing context (aside from identifying Rabin in the frame) show this clip (at least the first 30 seconds).
Ask learners:
- What do you notice about Rabin? Does he look happy, nervous, hesitant, proud?
- What do you notice about anybody else on the stage?
Before showing the clip again, provide the following context:
In 1993, Israel and the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) signed a Declaration of Principles on the White House lawn that set the framework for peace negotiations to resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On one side was Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and on the other side was PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat. Arafat had previously championed terror attacks against Israelis and was considered by Rabin among Israel’s most dangerous enemies. Shaking Arafat’s hand was extremely difficult for Rabin, and the image became a symbol of reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.
Show the clip again, and ask:
- Why do you think Rabin changed his approach to Arafat?
- Do you think Rabin forgot his animosity for Arafat? If so, how? If not, why do you think he agreed to negotiate with him?
ARIEL SHARON
Note to educator: This activity explores the life and legacy of Ariel Sharon. The activity focuses on Sharon’s transition from military commander to political leader: how did these roles change his outlook and priorities? Or, do the different roles reflect his changing outlook and priorities?
OPENING ACTIVITY
Ask learners:
- What are your reflections on the reading/video?
- Why do you think Sharon became a popular political figure after his military service?
- Were you surprised by any actions Sharon undertook as prime minister? Do any of his actions seem to contradict his prior military or political activity?
DISCUSSION
Explain to your learners that the next part of the activity will focus on one (or two) of Sharon’s most controversial legacies: the building and dismantling of settlements in Gaza and the West Bank. Share the following two quotes:
“It was Sharon who not only built the settlements, but conceived of where they should be built. His plan was extensive from the beginning and designed to make it difficult to leave the territories [and make peace with the Palestinians]. That was his purpose; knowing that Israel would face pressure [to give up the territories], he wanted to create [irreversible facts on the ground].” 1
—Former U.S. Ambassador to Israel Dennis Ross
- What do you understand from this quote?
- What were Sharon’s priorities? What were his strategies to achieve his goals?
“Let us assume we can conquer the whole of Eretz Israel by force of arms. I’m sure we can. But then what? We will be a single state. But the state will want to be democratic…. and we will be a minority… When the choice before us was the whole of Eretz Israel but no Jewish state or a Jewish state but not the whole of Eretz Israel, we chose a Jewish state.” 2
—Ariel Sharon
- What do you understand from this quote?
- What were Sharon’s priorities? What were his strategies to achieve his goals?
CONCLUDING DISCUSSION
Ask learners:
Do you think Sharon changed his priorities as a leader from his time as a military commander to his tenure as prime minister? If so, how and why? If not, how do you explain his change in tactics (i.e. from building to dismantling settlements)?
1 Dennis Ross and David Makovsky, Be Strong and of Good Courage: How Israel’s Most Important Leaders Shaped Its Destiny (New York, NY: Public Affairs, 2019), 257.
2 Ibid., 268.
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