Israel has its own version of Napoleon’s famous saying, “Every soldier carries a marshal's baton in his pack.” In these parts, every general carries a prime minister’s baton — or at least that of a defense minister — in his pack. Three former army chiefs are now eyeing the seats of power from the leadership of the opposition Blue and White party. A fourth, Ehud Barak, who changed his fatigues for a suit and tie when he became prime minister 20 years ago, has formed a new party — Democratic Israel — bringing on board yet another general, Maj. Gen. (Res.) Yair Golan.

There was also much talk recently about former Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. (Res.) Gadi Eizenkot as a possible reinforcement for those challenging the Likud party’s hold on power. Ordinarily, Eizenkot would have had to wait three years after leaving the military to run for the Knesset, but given the language of the law and the disbanding of the Knesset on May 29, just weeks after it was sworn in, Eizenkot could potentially run in the upcoming Sept. 17 elections. The law, however, does not prevent generals from paving their way into politics while still in uniform. Barak, for example, was state politics champion even as a young general in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

As illustrated by the results of the April 9 elections, three batons of former lieutenant generals are not sufficient to defeat the religious right-wing bloc led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Likud party. When incumbent IDF chief Aviv Kochavi takes the plunge into politics, as his comrades in arms predict, he will be able to count on strong references from this political bloc. Kochavi’s recent decision to promote Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter, clearly identified with religious Zionism, and to restore him to a field command will serve Kochavi the politician well in overcoming any pockets of dissent among the right-wing settlers. Kochavi’s appointment of Winter to command the so-called Fire Division has already earned him a medal of honor from Makor Rishon, a paper owned by arch-conservatives Sheldon and Miriam Adelson and closely affiliated with religious settler circles. Its editor Hagai Segal was a member of the Jewish Underground and served jail time in the 1980s for his role in planting a bomb that blew off the leg of a Palestinian mayor.

“Chief of Staff Kochavi proves yet again that his point of view is different from that of his predecessor, Lt. Gen. (Res.) Gadi Eizenkot,” Makor Rishon wrote in praise. “After a four-year saga during which Brig. Gen. Ofer Winter was held back in rank and position, he is now getting the promotion he deserves.”