Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke today (Sunday) with the commander of the Hasmonaean Brigade, Lieutenant Colonel Avinoam Emuna, and agreed with him that he will continue serving in the IDF - and will serve as the Chief of Staff's advisor on Haredi affairs.
This is a sensitive and weighty position, precisely at a time when the question of ultra-Orthodox service in the IDF is at the heart of public and political discourse.
Emunah is scheduled to end his role in the Hasmonean Brigade soon, and until recently it seemed that he would retire from the IDF and not be promoted.
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Colonel Emunah is considered an outstanding and respected officer, who commanded, among other things, the 101st Battalion of the Paratrooper Brigade in Operation Protective Edge, and the Magellan Unit.
In recent years, he led the establishment of the Hasmonean Brigade, the first regular Haredi brigade, and succeeded in establishing a military framework within it that combines maintaining an ultra-Orthodox lifestyle alongside significant combat service.
Chairman of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, MK Boaz Bismuth: "I welcome the Chief of Staff's decision to continue the service of Lieutenant Colonel Avinoam Emuna and to appoint him as Advisor to the Chief of Staff for Haredi Affairs. The decision reflects an understanding in the IDF that strengthening the service requires true adaptation to the characteristics of the Haredi sector.
""The Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will continue to support measures that expand the service base and strengthen the IDF.".
The decision was made after it was reported about two months ago that Emunah would soon end his position - and would likely retire from the IDF.
Military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua wrote at the time in his X account that this was a surprising decision given Emunah's command background and the achievements he accumulated throughout his service: "The army showed him the door out. Emunah is an outstanding, decorated officer and a brave fighter, who previously commanded the 101st Battalion in Operation Protective Edge and the Magellan Unit.
""Above all, he managed to establish the Haredi Brigade and gain the trust of the rabbis, parents, and fighters.
""He is Haredi and in the past his beard bothered several officers. The fact that such an officer is not promoted to the position of division commander and goes home does not contribute to the trust between the IDF and Haredi society and is also a great loss for the army.".
