IDF Chief of Employees Aviv Kohavi on Wednesday denounced the barring of a feminine officer from main a swearing-in ceremony on the Western Wall final week, calling it a “violation of our values.”
In a letter to troopers, Kohavi mentioned final week’s incident “fully contradicts the spirit of the IDF” and “violates values that the military is predicated on.”
Kohavi famous equality was central to the core values of the Israel Protection Forces, saying distinctions between women and men “can solely be made on knowledgeable and matter-of-fact foundation.”
“Girls serve within the military, are important to the military and their service is vital to the IDF,” he mentioned, including that “they’re commanders, they’re instructors, they’re researchers, they’re fight troopers and so they carry out many various duties.”
He burdened that navy issues shouldn’t be determined by exterior events. “It’s forbidden for IDF commanders to be influenced by stress teams or events outdoors the chain of command,” he mentioned.
The chief of employees additionally mentioned he understood each the skilled and ethical “dilemmas” commanders face, however reminded them that it was their obligation to create a “secure, truthful and equal” atmosphere for all troopers.
After the last-minute determination to take away the officer from the main the cermony, the IDF mentioned the reversal adopted a request from the Western Wall Heritage Basis. The federal government physique is chargeable for managing the holy website and does so in accordance with Orthodox customs, akin to sustaining prayer areas separated by gender.
“The feminine IDF academic officer who deliberate to steer the ceremony was requested not to take action by the civilian basis,” the IDF mentioned. “The commanders on website accepted the request, which was an error in judgment of these current [and] who didn’t seek the advice of with senior commanders.”
Illustrative: Israeli troopers at a swearing-in ceremony on the Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Outdated Metropolis, on November 13, 2019. (Sara Klatt/Flash90)
Nonetheless, Hebrew media stories mentioned final week the Western Wall Heritage Basis explicitly demanded the feminine officer not lead the ceremony.
The IDF mentioned the incident can be investigated and burdened that it doesn’t prohibit girls from main official ceremonies.
In its response, the Western Wall Heritage Basis mentioned navy ceremonies on the website are held in accordance with IDF pointers and chalked up the incident to a “native misunderstanding.”
Girls serve in quite a lot of roles within the IDF, in lots of instances alongside their male counterparts. There are additionally totally built-in mixed-gender fight items such because the Caracal and Bardelas battalions, that are tasked with defending Israel’s border with Egypt and Jordan, respectively. Within the Air Power, men and women serve collectively within the air protection items, together with the Iron Dome — technically thought of a fight unit.
In response to the navy, Kohavi authorised final Friday the advice of the Israeli Air Power commander, Maj. Gen Tomer Bar, on the combination of ladies in fight roles into the elite helicopter-borne search and rescue unit Unit 669.
