IDF: Religious troops may be excused from informal events

The IDF General Staff forum has decided to adopt a special committee's recommendation to excuse religious soldiers from informal events which include women's singing, Ynet learned Monday.

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The committee, which is headed by IDF Personnel Directorate chief Major-General Orna Barbivai, also determined that religious soldiers should not be allowed to leave an official event where women are invited to perform. However, commanders will be authorized to excuse religious soldiers from cultural events that feature such performances.

IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz said last week that some soldiers should be excused from informal social events where women sing but stressed that attendance is mandatory in formal gatherings. "In non-formal events one can and should respect the people," he said, referring to religious troops.

"We're not fighting with the people, we are looking for ways not to fight with them, we're looking for ways to serve alongside them. That means that in social events we excuse them and in formal gatherings everyone attends," the army chief added.

Gantz stressed that the army will maintain equality for women. "The IDF has room for the service of women wherever they can contribute. There is no ban on women's singing and no alternative to the commander's authority. The commander, and no one else, decides what happens in a room. The State of Israel and the IDF must make sure of this."

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