Jewish family in Binyamin
Jewish family in BinyaminIsrael news photo: Flash 90

IDF soldiers in Samaria have been ordered to avoid fraternizing with local Jews by rejecting offers of hospitality on Sabbaths and holidays. The new orders, a major change to decades of tradition, were discovered recently when soldiers turned down offers to join Samaria residents for holiday meals.

Soldiers have been told to avoid being guests in Samaria Jews' homes during the week, as well. The orders were issued by Samaria Brigade commander Colonel Itzik Bar.

Similar orders were issued four years ago, regarding soldiers serving in Gaza. Shortly before the 2005 “Disengagement” in which Jewish residents of the area were forced from their homes, soldiers were ordered to avoid accepting invitations from local Jews, after many years in which soldiers regularly ate with Jewish families on the Sabbath and holidays.

Samaria Residents: Move will Harm Soldiers

Gershon Mesika, head of the Samaria Regional Council, criticized the decision. “This is an unprecedented and bad decision... This move will mostly affect the welfare of the soldiers,” he said.

“I am sure the the decision will be reversed," he added.

David Haivri, director of the Samaria Liaison Office, said, "Itzik Bar is a fine officer but unfortunately his concepts on relations with the local Jewish population are at times counter productive."

Ironically, Bar himself has sought help from Samaria Jews in finding funding for programs benefiting his soldiers, Haivri noted. “When that outside support does come through I strongly doubt that he will turn it away,” he said.

IDF: 'Simple Logic'

IDF spokesmen defended the decision on Friday, insisting that “simple logic” required that soldiers eat all their meals within the framework of the army. The army is responsible for soldiers' safety, they said, and therefore must keep tabs on soldiers at all times as long as they are on duty.

Sources quoted in the Hebrew-language daily Maariv offered a different explanation for the new order. Colonel Bar said in private conversations that the real reason for the orders was to avoid situations in which soldiers could be exposed to residents' views on controversial national issues, they said.