Knesset members Zahava Gal-On, Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg of the Meretz party petitioned the Supreme Court, Tuesday, against the appointment of Colonel Eyal Karim to be Chief Rabbi of the Israel Defense Forces. Citing statements made by Rabbi Karim years ago, the petition accused him of a severe, burning hatred of women, homophobia and intolerance towards the LGBT community and xenophobia."
Following the public outcry over those statements, Rabbi Karim pledged to Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eisenkot that he personally as well as the rabbinate under his command would respect everyone as human beings regardless of religion, race or sexual preference and that he sees the army as the people's army which takes in all the recruits, male and female, whatever they may be.