The IDF said Thursday it is investigating an incident in which troops from the 36th Division flew flags calling for the construction of the third Bais HaMikdash on their heavy machinery while operating in Gaza—an act the army acknowledged violates military protocol.
According to Army Radio, the flags were distributed by a reservist within the division and later affixed to bulldozers and other engineering vehicles. Images of the flags circulated online this week, sparking internal scrutiny and renewed debate over the growing visibility of religious nationalist symbols in IDF units during the war.
“This is an incident that is not consistent with the IDF’s values,” the military said in a statement. “The incident will be investigated and handled accordingly.”
While the army has long prohibited non-military insignia, the war in Gaza has seen a surge of soldiers displaying personal patches, banners, and religious symbols—including those linked to messianic movements that advocate rebuilding the Bais HaMikdash on the Har Habayis.
Concerned about the optics and political implications, the IDF issued new guidelines in April aimed at curbing the practice. But compliance has been uneven, particularly among reserve units where commanders have struggled to enforce uniform discipline after months of intense fighting.
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6 Responses
“[I]ncluding those linked to messianic movements that advocate rebuilding the Bais HaMikdash on the Har Habayis.”
What sort of “messianic movements” – advocating for rebuilding the Beis haMikdash on the Har haBayis is a fundamental principle of Yiddishkeit!! We may disagree on the best method to accomplish this, but I’d hope that we can all agree that this is what we daven for every day.
an Israeli Yid
Ywn: please clarify who exactly are these messianics?
Chabad?
Mizrachi?
Jews for cheeses?
Something else?
What are their religious beliefs, precisely?
Let me be reasonable. Why is the visibility of religious nationalist symbols in IDF units against the IDF’s values and what are the IDF’s values. Does the PLO and Hamas and others share these values or are they different? Which is consistent with the precious “international law” and order?
Let’s start from the bottom and work our way up in this. I feel that we’re going to get the same answers a major corporation that pretends not to be political would respond, and not a military.
Messianic movements are those religious zionists who believe that its our duty to build the BhM and THEN mashiach will come.
Its very sad. They are trying to keep torah and mitzvos which is wonderful, but this insidious zionism is having them do things that are 1) assur 2) harmful to our brethren.
“Messianic movements” means those jews are who actively involved in trying to rebuild the Bes hamikdash.
This is a chiyuv d’eoraysa, but because of the exile, especially after the various rebellions failed 1900 years ago, most jews haven’t been able to be actively involved in this chiyuv.
We need a diplomatic solution to this issue.
2000 years is long enough.
Anything that smells of Yidishkeit is not welcomed in the army. Chas Veshalom the generals should read a Siddur – a והשב העבודה לדביר ביתך,
וירושלים ברחמים תשוב etc.