Smotrich backs soldiers who refused to go on patrol with a female paramedic in Gaza: "I will demand answers"
The chairman of the Religious Zionism party backed 16 Givati Brigade soldiers who refused to board an Namer APC after learning she would join them: "They insisted on their right and duty to serve while maintaining their values and faith." He declared he would intervene after the IDF announced they would be sent to military prison: "I hoped the army would come to its senses."
Minister of Finance and Minister in the Ministry of Defense Bezalel Smotrich declared this morning (Monday) that he backs the 16 soldiers of the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade who were sentenced to military prison after refusing to go on an operational patrol in an Namer APC in Gaza, after learning that a female paramedic would join them.
"I back the soldiers who insisted on their right and duty to serve in the IDF while maintaining their values and faith, while strictly adhering to the order for proper integration," wrote the chairman of the Religious Zionism party.
The Rotem Battalion of Givati is also composed of yeshiva students (Hesder yeshiva students) - and Smotrich declared that he would intervene in the matter:
"The soldiers have the full backing of the rabbis and directors of the Hesder Yeshiva Union who examined the issue deeply and with the appropriate caution, and they stand behind the decision."
Five of the soldiers who led the incident were sentenced to 10 days in military prison, and 11 other soldiers were sentenced to five days in military prison.
"I prayed and hoped with all my might that the IDF would come to its senses and prevent the need for my intervention, but since that did not happen - as the leader of Religious Zionism I cannot sit idly by and I will demand answers from the IDF on the matter," said Smotrich.
He added: "It is a great pity that there are those in the IDF who choose to use flawed judgment to confront head-on the most serving and contributing public, in a way that will only cause damage and harm public trust in the IDF."
According to an IDF statement last night, near midnight, two of the five soldiers sentenced to 10 days in military prison will undergo an evaluation committee before returning to combat. The one who judged the soldiers was the battalion commander, who determined the soldiers' punishments according to their level of involvement in the incident. Because of the soldiers' refusal, the activity was cancelled.
According to the IDF, while the unit's commanders agreed to carry out the activity - it was the soldiers alone who refused to go out on it because of the addition of the paramedic. In an attempt to change their decision, the company commander held a discussion with them in which he explained the importance and urgency of the mission - and the brigade rabbi also permitted them to go out on it. However, despite this, the soldiers stood their ground and refused an order.
"These are young soldiers, new to the battalion, they don't know how it works yet," said a soldier in the Tomer company, a parallel unit composed of ultra-Orthodox soldiers. "In training, everything is separated and defined, and when you get to the battalion, you get this slap in the face. Unfortunately, now they will also pay for it."
