For the first time, the Israel Defense Forces are being assisted bya public relationsand strategic consulting office from the hareidi-religioussectorto marketthe subject of hareidim, their enlistment andtheirintegration and activities inthe IDF, according to a Friday morning report by Kol Yisrael government radio. Media adviserYa'akovBichler has beenworkingwith the IDFand its PersonnelDepartment since January and helda news conferencewith the head of the personnel branch which was limited to hareidi reporters.
The IDF Spokesmansaid in response that"The IDF is attempting toreach every inducteeand understands the uniqueness of the hareidi sector. Thereforethe personnel branch is being assisted by a consulting office related to the mission, subject toa competitive bidandapproval ofthe IDF Spokesman." A military source noted thatthe IDFSpokesman's Office itself has established areligious department which will specializein religious media in light of itsunderstanding of thesubject.