Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said Wednesday that commanders in the Givati Brigade initially wanted to close the case against soldiers who refused to board an armored personnel carrier with a female medic, but that the IDF Chief of Staff insisted on severe punishment.
“All the factors within the Givati Brigade wanted to close the case. They understood these were good soldiers. Unfortunately, there was an instruction from someone up in the General Staff headquarters that said: ‘We want severe punishment here,’" Smotrich said in an interview with Galei Yisrael.
Asked whether he was referring to the Chief of Staff, Smotrich replied in the affirmative. “I checked it. All the factors in the brigade know the commanders, know the soldiers, and understood the enormous harm that could be caused here," he said.
Sixteen soldiers were sentenced to confinement, including five who received 10-day sentences in military prison. Another 11 soldiers were sentenced to five days of confinement.
Two days earlier, Smotrich publicly backed the soldiers from the Rotem Battalion and said he would demand answers from the defense establishment over their punishment. “I back Givati soldiers who insisted on their right and obligation to serve in the IDF, while preserving their values and faith and ensuring compliance with the order on proper integration. I prayed and hoped with all my heart that the IDF would take stock and avoid the need for my intervention, but since it did not happen-as a leader of Religious Zionism, I cannot sit idly by, and I will demand answers from the IDF on this matter."
“It is very unfortunate that in the IDF there are those who choose to use mistaken judgment to confront directly the public that serves and contributes the most, in a manner that will create only harm and undermine the public’s trust in the IDF."