Former Israeli commander warns Israel faces ‘irreversible collapse’

Retired Israeli Maj. Gen. Itzhak Brik warned Sunday that Israel is facing an irreversible breakdown across its military, economy and institutions, saying it had lost international legitimacy and allies and could not endure prolonged isolation.

In an opinion article published by Israel’s Maariv daily, Brik described the country’s predicament as a comprehensive collapse rather than a political crisis.

He called the results of last Tuesday’s parliamentary elections “the official death certificate of the State of Israel as we knew it,” criticizing television commentators for focusing on seats and coalition negotiations while overlooking deeper problems.

Their coverage, he wrote, resembled an orchestra playing aboard the Titanic in its final moments.

Brik, who formerly commanded military colleges and served as the Ministry of Defense's Ombudsman for Soldiers' Complaints, said Israel had become an international pariah.

“We have lost legitimacy and allies,” he wrote, warning that the country could not remain in complete isolation for long.

He described Israel’s ground forces as suffering a structural collapse and a breakdown in morale, arguing that they lacked the capacity to defend the country against simultaneous threats from within and beyond its borders.

An exhausted army would be unable to stop large-scale incursions or protect civilians in a wider regional war, he warned.

Brik also said that prolonged warfare had driven the national debt to 1.4 trillion shekels ($445 billion). He alleged that economic sanctions, arms restrictions and growing financial isolation were intensifying the pressure.

He dismissed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s proposal to use cryptocurrencies to counter possible European sanctions as naive and absurd, warning that further deterioration could threaten Israelis’ savings.

Turning to domestic divisions, Brik said Israeli society was experiencing a “silent civil war” rather than polarization alone.

Doctors, scientists, technology entrepreneurs and other skilled professionals were leaving, he said, draining expertise accumulated over decades.

He accused the political leadership of eroding the rule of law and public institutions, with political appointments and unquestioning loyalty taking precedence over competence and integrity.

The Oct. 27 election left Netanyahu’s bloc with 53 seats in the 120-member Knesset compared with 48 for the opposition bloc led by Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot and 19 for Arab parties.

Neither main bloc secured the 61 seats needed for a parliamentary majority.