Former Israeli general: ‘We are the world champions of occupation’

A former Israeli general lambasted the ongoing military occupation of the West Bank and Gaza Strip on Wednesday, speaking at a conference in Herzliya.

Maj. Gen. (res.) Gadi Shamni, head of the army’s Central Command in 2007-2009, claimed that the Israelis “have elevated the occupation to an art form.”

He added: “We are the world champions of occupation.”

According to Shamni, “the IDF is busy controlling a population of 2.5 million civilians [which] diverts the army from its primary function. The IDF is having trouble preparing for the threats facing it. The army’s ethics and capabilities are drained and it becomes a punching bag for politicians.”