IDF faces a cultural shift as more religious members enter the ranks previously led by a primarily non-religious force

The claim that Winter's national religious background affected his promotion has sparked controversy surrounding Israel's democracy. Denying anti-religious Zionist stance, Golan criticized institutions teaching anti-democratic values with racist undertones. Shaul of Ofek Center for Public Affairs highlighted the growing influence of national religious academies in IDF, noting a significant increase in their representation over time. The war in Gaza has seen extreme nationalistic sentiments within units with high national religious recruitment. Soldiers have been observed expressing messianic views and displaying prejudices against Palestinians, drawing condemnation from the IDF. National religious soldiers' motivations include settlement expansion, leading to increased representation in combat units and potential ideological conflicts at higher command levels within the army.