The Israeli Society Index, published this month by the Jewish People Policy Institute (JPPI), shows a significant rise in public trust in the IDF’s senior command following leadership changes, including the appointment of Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Deputy Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Tamir Yadai, and Southern Command Commander Maj. Gen. Yaniv Asor.
Sharp Rise to 60% Trust Level
Last month, trust in the IDF’s top brass stood at just 41%. This month, however, it has jumped sharply to 60%. These numbers are both significant and encouraging—especially during this sensitive period between Holocaust Remembrance Day, Memorial Day, and Independence Day. However, no one in the IDF’s senior leadership should rest on their laurels.
We are living through a tumultuous time. From reflecting on the devastating destruction of the Holocaust, where Jews lacked the ability to defend themselves, we move to mourning the loss of soldiers and victims of terror. The events of October 7 only deepened this collective sorrow.
Trust Is Not Just a Statistic
Within this emotional landscape, trust in the IDF and Israel’s security forces gains deeper significance. It is not just a matter of polling or statistics; it is the existential foundation of Israel’s survival. Without high public trust, it is difficult to imagine mothers willingly sending their sons and daughters to meaningful military service. Without trust, the reserve forces could crumble entirely.
A Sign of Recovery – and a Heavy Responsibility
The rise in trust may signal a certain national recovery, but it also places a heavy responsibility on the shoulders of IDF leadership, particularly the Chief of Staff. Nearly a 50% jump in trust reflects the people’s hopes and expectations that the new leadership will deliver: to defeat Hamas, to bring the hostages home, and to defend Israel’s borders against all enemies.
Yet this renewed trust is not a blank check—it is an opportunity. An opportunity for the IDF to prove it has changed, learned, and internalized the lessons of October 7.
Trust demands uncompromising professionalism, genuine readiness for any scenario—not just lip service—and above all, fighting spirit and deep national faith.
Trust in the Government? A Different Matter
True, trust in the government is also important. However, governments and politicians can be replaced at the ballot box. If the public loses trust in a government, it can vote for a new one. But you cannot simply replace an army.
In the Middle East, as Holocaust Remembrance Day reminds us, Israel has no second chances. If Israel loses even one war, it may cease to exist. Thus, Israelis expect the IDF to win—to defeat every enemy standing in its way. Without this, the Zionist vision would collapse.
The current rise in trust is indeed an encouraging sign. Our nation does not easily despair, even after great disasters. We proved it after the Holocaust by founding the State of Israel, after the Yom Kippur War by turning defeat into victory, and today, nearly a year and a half after the horrors of Simchat Torah, we continue to prove it every day.
The people of Israel are doing their part. Now, it is up to the IDF’s senior leadership to prove that the trust and hopes placed in them are justified.
By: Moshe Vistoch.
