Avirah – In regards to the Shalosh Shevuos, Rav Moshe, whom you previously acknowledged as the Posek of America, said that the second Sevorah (that the Shevuos are interconnected) is a strong Sevora (Mesoras Moshe volume 3, page 365-366).
In regards to the stories with Rav Chaim Shmulevitz and Rav Shlomo Zalman, they’re very well known stories, quoted by many people. It appears from Rav Lopiansky’s report in Timepieces that Rav Chaim would say it every Yom Kipur, and Rav Lopiansky learnt in Mir for years; I think this qualifies as first hand.
“Being a milchemes mitzvah is untenable with people who don’t believe in the mitzvos to begin with. If an atheist makes a bracha, we don’t answer amen, because his bracha is not a bracha. Their kibush is not a mitzvah either, even if it fulfilled the necessary requirements (which it doesn’t, as there’s no king).”
Rav Tzvi Pesach Pesach Frank considered the wars in EY to be Milchemes Mitzvah. Either way, the Shitah of the Religious Zionists is based on their understanding of Halacha. Even if you think it’s a ridiculous Shitah, they base it off Halachah, and give Teirutzim. Therefore, I don’t see why it should be different than other Machlokesim in Halacha. I don’t think it’s fair to say that religious Zionists serve in the army because they equate nationalism to Torah and Mitzvos.
Also, it should be noted that Rav Kook assumed that a democracy is considered like a king in Halacha, and Rav Ovadya took this as a Pashtus in his Teshuvah about Dinah Dimalchusah Dinah.
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