Dozens of right-wing protesters gathered outside the home of IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir in a community in the Sharon region, following an incident in which a soldier wearing a "Messiah" patch was jailed after Zamir visited the guard post and saw him.The protesters held signs reading “traitor, enemy of Israel,” played loud music, and waved Israeli flags. Dozens of activists took part in the protest.מפגיני ימין בשעה זו מול ביתו של הרמטכל אייל זמיר בישוב בשרון בעקבות סיפור פאטצ׳ המשיח. מוזיקה בקולי קולות וקריאות נגד הרמטכ״ל ״בוגד, עוכר ישראל, נאצי״ לאן נוליך את החרפה והבושה. pic.twitter.com/d81Lk3UTXi— Or Heller אור הלר (@OrHeller) May 23, 2026Knesset members respond, supporting Zamir and condemning the governmentOpposition leader Yair Lapid responded to the incident in a Twitter/X post, saying: "The shocking attack on the chief of staff is a direct result of the incitement by Knesset members and ministers in the government against the IDF, its commanders, and its fighters." Taking a stance similar to Lapid's, former prime minister Naftali Bennett held the current government responsible for inciting the incident, writing: "[The government] promotes the draft-dodging law, attacks on the chief of staff and other top security officials, and incites against anyone who dares to speak the truth."Yashar! party chairman and former IDF chief of staff, Gadi Eisenkot, also posted a response on Twitter/X post, saying: “The shocking calls outside the home of the IDF chief of staff are crossing a bright red line, a severe warning sign for the future of Israeli society... Calling the IDF chief of staff, the commander of the IDF who has tied his fate to the security of the state, a 'traitor' and an 'enemy of Israel' is a deep disgrace.”“It is inconceivable that during wartime, protesters are standing outside the home of the IDF chief of staff and calling him a 'traitor,'" wrote MK Chili Tropper, who recently left Benny Gantz's Blue and White party and is expected to join Eisenkot's Yashar! "Whoever harms IDF commanders harms IDF soldiers," Tropper added. "Reckless people, some of whom hold official positions and some of whom hold microphones in their hands, are tearing us apart from within, weakening the IDF, and echoing lies.”IDF soldier sentenced to month in prison for wearing 'Messiah' patch during IDF chief's visitAn IDF soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir caught him wearing a "Messiah" patch on his uniform, the military confirmed on May 13.Zamir had been touring the West Bank when he encountered several soldiers who were behaving inappropriately and failing to follow military discipline.In addition to the soldier sentenced to 30 days of prison, the platoon commander was given a suspended sentence of 14 days detention, the company commander was reprimanded, and the battalion commander was given a formal mark on his record.National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir criticized the decision to punish the soldier, arguing that the move was excessive and damaging to morale.“While our heroic and sacred soldiers are fighting on the front lines and risking their lives for the people of Israel, the chief of staff is taking an unnecessary step and sending a self-sacrificing soldier to military prison for wearing a Messiah patch on his uniform.“This punishment is unnecessary and harms fighting spirit. Even if the chief of staff believes it is inappropriate to wear such a patch, there is no reason for such a severe and disproportionate punishment.”Tzvi Jasper contributed to this report.