Deputy Defense Minister Rabbi Eli Ben-Dahan (Jewish Home) has commented on the case of a religious IDF officer who was ordered to shave his beard.
"I have no doubt that army officials do not want to hurt soldiers who grow beards during their military service. The army is dragged into the issue following a Supreme Court response to a petition by non-religious soldiers who also asked to be exempt from shaving. The army changed its method of giving exemptions from shaving so that it includes all soldiers, both religious and secular," said Ben-Dahan.
As for the storm that grew out of the issue, the Deputy Minister said that "there have been many complaints and, following my request, the army held an investigation about the process. I am certain that the army is wise enough to avoid harming IDF soldiers when it is not appropriate to do so."