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In the late 19th century, the Dreyfus Affair exposed antisemitism within the French military and broader society.
By Shula Rosen
A military court judge in Judea and Samaria promoted a descendant of Alfred Dreyfus to the rank of lieutenant colonel – the same rank held by his ancestor – in a ceremony marking his advancement within the Israel Defense Forces.
Uriel Dreyfus received the promotion at an event presided over by Military Court of Appeals President Orly Markman.
Alfred Dreyfus, a French Jewish artillery officer, was convicted of treason in 1894 in a case later identified as a miscarriage of justice.
The affair bearing his name exposed antisemitism within the French military and broader society.
During the ceremony, Uriel Dreyfus reflected on his ancestor’s treatment, describing the public degradation that followed the conviction.
“In a humiliating ceremony, in front of the crowds, his sword was broken. He was accused of treason he did not commit simply because he was Jewish.”
He also referenced Alfred Dreyfus’ imprisonment on Devil’s Island, where he was sent into exile. After an appeal, he returned, though the charges remained in place during his lifetime.
Uriel Dreyfus said his own service has been shaped by that history: “When I entered the gates of the IDF as a young soldier, I carried this memory with me. I understood that every rank I would receive, every step I would take in the army, would constitute a historical correction.”
Marking his promotion, he added, “Today, as I receive the rank of lieutenant colonel, I feel that the ranks that were then torn in disgrace are now being proudly sewn anew, on the olive green uniform of the Israel Defense Forces and within the system of belief in the administration of justice in the sovereign Jewish state.”
Addressing the period following October 7, he said, “The last few years have been the hardest in our lives. We have lost friends, subordinates, and commanders. In this pain, we must remember the determination of those who came before us. We will survive and win the battles because we have no other country and no other army.”
He also described the role of the military courts. “Our role in the Courts Unit is sometimes transparent to the public eye, but it constitutes the backbone of Israeli democracy,” Dreyfus said last Tuesday.
“We, my fellow judges and I, defend the place where words are mightier than bullets, and where truth is the supreme commander. This is our professional commitment, and this is our moral mission.”
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