Givati Battalion Commander Details Events Behind Soldier Protest Over Memorial Signs

Soldiers from the Givati Brigade stationed at the Shde Yamam base protested on Thursday by leaving the base and laying down their weapons. The protest was sparked by orders from their battalion commander, Lt. Col. Menachem Tzabar, to remove wooden signs linked to the "Pazm culture," including symbols like "Satan" and the "Angel of Death," which represent violent and degrading games among soldiers. The soldiers claimed they were ordered to destroy a memorial corner dedicated to fallen comrades, which the commander denied, clarifying that the signs targeted were unrelated to memorials or fallen soldiers.

In a letter to the soldiers' parents, Lt. Col. Tzabar explained that the decision was to remove most of these signs from the platoons while preserving a few due to their sentimental value. He emphasized that the memorial corners and tributes to fallen soldiers were not harmed, countering media claims. He also noted that many soldiers who left the base and abandoned their weapons did so under negative social pressure rather than rational judgment.

To resolve the situation, the commander allowed soldiers to return to the base by 4 p.m., stating that those who come back will be supported, while those who do not will face consequences. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed that the soldiers left without permission after being asked to remove signs related to abnormal events. The IDF is investigating the incident, stressing that such behavior contradicts the army's values and expectations of its soldiers.