Defense Minister Israel Katz on Wednesday announced that he would personally intervene and address the controversy that developed in the Rotem Battalion of the Givati Brigade after yeshiva students refused to enter a Namer armored personnel carrier (APC) with a female soldier, in accordance with IDF regulations.
During the government meeting, Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu approached Katz and asked him to intervene in the matter. Katz responded that immediately following the meeting, he would see to it that the issue was addressed and the regulations clarified.
The controversy erupted after three combat soldiers refused to enter a Namer in which a female paramedic was present, with the soldiers maintaining that they were acting in accordance with the Joint Service Order.
Arutz Sheva - Israel National News has learned that Rabbi Tzvi Kostiner, head of the Mitzpe Ramon Yeshiva, and Rabbi Shlomo Shushan, head of the Beit She'an Yeshiva, whose students serve in the platoon, instructed their students not to enter the vehicle.
According to sources familiar with the details of the incident, after the three soldiers announced that they would not enter the Namer, the other soldiers in the platoon were asked whether any of them were willing to enter the vehicle together with the female paramedic. According to the soldiers, none of the platoon's members agreed to do so.
Following the incident, all soldiers in the yeshiva students’ platoon of the Hesder battalion were sentenced to 21 days of confinement. The IDF also considered removing the three soldiers who refused to board the vehicle from combat positions.
The Union of Hesder Yeshivas announced that it supports the soldiers, stating: "The Union emphasizes that the soldiers acted in accordance with the Joint Service Order, and the IDF is expected to uphold and respect the order and allow a soldier who observes Jewish law to serve in accordance with his beliefs. Accordingly, there is obviously no justification for punishing soldiers who acted in accordance with the order."
The Union added that "recently, there has been a significant decline in commanders' adherence to orders that allow soldiers who observe Jewish law to serve in accordance with their beliefs, trampling the soldiers' rights and way of life. This must change, and quickly!"