Minister Betzalel Smotrich revealed that Givati Brigade commanders wanted to close the case of the soldiers who refused to enter a Namer APC with a female paramedic, but IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir insisted on severely punishing the soldiers.

Speaking in an interview on Wednesday with Galey Yisrael, Smotrich said: “Everyone within the Givati Brigade wanted to close the affair. They understood that these were good soldiers. Unfortunately, there was an instruction from someone higher up in the General Staff who said: ‘We want a harsh punishment here.'”

When asked whether he was referring to the Chief of Staff, Smotrich answered in the affirmative.

“I checked it out. Everyone in the brigade is familiar with the commanders, is familiar with the soldiers, and understood the enormous damage that could be caused here.”

Sixteen of the soldiers were sentenced to military prison. Five received 10-day sentences, while another 11 soldiers were sentenced to five days.

Smotrich said on Monday morning that he will demand answers from the IDF regarding the soldiers’ punishment.

“I support the Givati soldiers who insisted on their right and duty to serve in the IDF while preserving their values and beliefs and adhering to the Joint Service Order,” Smotrich stated. “The soldiers have the full backing of the Rabbanim and administrators of the Association of Hesder Yeshivas, who examined the matter thoroughly and with the appropriate caution, and stand behind the decision.”

He added, “I davened and hoped with all my heart that the IDF would come to its senses and avoid the need for my intervention, but since that did not happen, as the leader of Religious Zionism I cannot sit idly by, and I will demand answers from the IDF on the matter.”

“It is very unfortunate that there are those in the IDF who, exercising poor judgment, choose to directly confront the sector that serves and contributes the most, in a way that will only cause harm and damage public trust in the IDF,” the minister concluded.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)