Ex-IDF Spokesperson to Lead Activist Group

Ayelet Kroizer, a former soldier in the IDF Spokesperson's Unit, will lead Breaking the Silence, an organization that campaigns for international war crimes charges against Israel.

Kroizer announced her new role in a post on X on Monday. She accused her former unit of manipulating facts to protect the army's public image rather than ensuring transparency. She stated that during her service, she observed how the Spokesperson's Unit controlled the public's perception of reality. Kroizer argued that this control involved a problematic manipulation of truth. She claimed the unit's goal when working with international audiences was to strengthen the legitimacy of military actions, a process she said came at the cost of accuracy.

Kroizer also highlighted her background as a member of the haredi, or ultra-Orthodox, community. She noted that she chose to enlist in the IDF during wartime despite being eligible for a service exemption based on her religious status.

Brig.-Gen. Effie Defrin, the IDF Spokesperson, responded to Kroizer's claims with a letter sent to unit commanders. He instructed them to share the message with all soldiers in the unit. Defrin wrote that Kroizer's remarks do not reflect the values, people, or professional worldview of the unit. He described the unit as comprising individuals from various segments of Israeli society who share a common ethical compass.

Defrin stated that this diversity serves as a source of strength for the group. He urged the soldiers not to let Kroizer's comments shake their confidence or diminish their sense of purpose.