Bennett
BennettFlash 90

Education Minister Naftali Bennett (Jewish Home) on Wednesday slammed Tzfat (Safed) Chief Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu's demand that IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eizenkot resign.

Recently, Rabbi Eliyahu told Army Radio that Eizenkot should resign for adopting a "ludicrous feminist agenda."

"The IDF has adopted a ludicrous feminist agenda," he said at the time. "I don't know what got into Eizenkot's head. Government ministers and Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu need to tell Eizenkot, 'Hand over the keys and go home.' He should have packed up after the report that soldiers are less motivated."

"He's done too many things to lower soldiers' motivation, and he's waged a war against religious soldiers. I call on the Prime Minister to tell Eizenkot 'go home.'"

"I completely reject any calls not to enlist in the IDF, and the chutzpa in the demand to replace the Chief of Staff," Bennett said.

"These demands stem from the true but misguided fear certain groups have that the IDF has decided to adopt a liberal, radical, and feminist agenda at the expense of its operational abilities and determination to win wars."

In August, Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman (Yisrael Beytenu) said, "The IDF is not promoting any agenda, whether feminist or chauvinist," Liberman said. "It promotes only one agenda: Israel's security."

The IDF has integrated female soldiers into combat roles, despite research showing female combat soldiers face increased risk of orthopedic issues and other problems in high percentages. The research also shows male combat soldiers are injured more often in coed combat units than they are in all-male combat units.

The IDF, too, admits that there are serious issues with women in combat, but continues to reduce the standards for combat readiness and training exercises so they can make the grade.