Haredi Nahal Rabbis Attack: Punishing Haredi Soldiers - "A Useless Step""

July 3, 2014   

Rabbis of the Haredi Nahal Association against punishing the Haredi soldiers: An official statement issued by the association's rabbis stated that "there is no dispute that the act the soldiers did is wrong, but in such a sensitive period with regard to Haredi recruitment, after the IDF publishes data on a drop in Haredi recruitment, out of the hundreds of soldiers who published statuses of this type - it is not right to punish and publish specifically the Haredi soldiers.". At the same time as the announcement was made, the association's rabbis expressed their displeasure to the Kfir Brigade command over the punishment of four soldiers in the Netzah Yehuda Battalion of the ultra-Orthodox Nahal. ארבעת חיילים נשלחו הבוקר (חמישי) למחבוש, לאחר שפרסמו תמונות בפייסבוק ובהן קריאה לחיסול מחבלים. הארבעה נשפטו בידי סמג"ד הנח"ל החרדי לעשרה ימי מחבוש, וזאת בגין עבירה של "פגיעה במשמעת". בתמונה שפרסמו שניים מהם, הם נראים מאחורי דף בו נכתב: "ביבי תן לנו לחסל את המחבלים". The rabbis' statement also stated: "The association's rabbis spoke about the act with the soldiers and explained to them that it was wrong. In addition, we intend to continue to talk to the soldiers about it in the Torah lessons we give them and in personal conversations.". ""However, we would expect the IDF to act with extreme sensitivity towards the ultra-Orthodox soldiers. The conscription law severely damaged the number of recruits and their morale. Taking additional drastic steps accompanied by publicity is a just act but really unhelpful.". The Haredi Nahal Association, which accompanies the Haredi soldiers during their service, notes that the Haredi soldiers have played a central role in recent weeks in efforts to damage Hamas infrastructure in the field, and that the soldiers have made dozens of arrests in Jenin and Tulkarm. In addition, in the past year, the battalion was responsible for nearly 300 arrests of wanted individuals in Jenin and Tulkarm, and for killing 14 terrorists - the highest record among infantry and paratrooper battalions. The battalion's high operational achievements, which include the arrest of a wanted person almost every night, are approaching those of the IDF's elite units. The achievements have recently led to a series of awards for excellence, most notably the Chief of Staff's Award.