Analysis: Government's plan deepens rift with army leaders

Israel's decision to approve a plan to occupy the Gaza Strip has reportedly deepened tensions between the government and the country's military leadership, while exposing fresh fractures within the army's senior ranks and straining relations with reservists summoned for what could become the most dangerous phase of the war.

- Lorenzo Tondo

According to local media reports, a bruising week of leaks and public recriminations has laid bare the rift between Israel's political leaders and its military high command.

"This is the most severe crisis in the history of relations between the political echelon and the military since the 1948 war," said Prof Yagil Levy, the head of the Institute for the Study of Civil-Military Relations at the Open University of Israel. "Never before has the political leadership compelled the military to execute an operation it adamantly opposed."

In the seven days before the pivotal meeting of Israel's security cabinet at which the plan was approved, the chief of staff, Lt Gen Eyal Zamir, repeatedly voiced his misgivings over the move to fully occupy the territory. He warned that taking over Gaza would plunge Israel into a "black hole" of prolonged insurgency, humanitarian responsibility and heightened risk to hostages.