Netanyahu's 'Kill Your Enemy Before He Kills You' Doctrine to Military, Inspired by Talmud

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s statement regarding Israel’s security doctrine, which rests on the principle of “initiative and pre-emptive attack,” has sparked widespread debate. The statement was delivered in a political speech laden with religious references and ideological justifications for the approach, reopening discussion on the character of Israel’s security strategy and its moral and political limits.

Speaking at a conference organised by the Jewish News Agency in occupied East Jerusalem, Netanyahu said Israel has changed its security doctrine. He added, “We take the initiative, attack, surprise, and strike the enemies who seek to destroy us and want to kill us. We attack them before they have the opportunity to do so.”

Netanyahu then quoted a Hebrew phrase, “Haba lehorgekha hashkem lehorgo,” which can be translated as, “If someone comes to kill you, rise up earlier and kill him first.” The phrase, according to him, is the rationale justifying the pre-emptive strike approach in Israel’s security doctrine. He also referred to a text in the Babylonian Talmud containing a similar meaning.

According to Netanyahu, this approach reflects a rational response to the existential threats faced by Israel and is not a deviation from religious tradition or Jewish thought.