Givati Battalion Commander Defends Breaking Controversial Signs Amid Mass Soldier Walkout
The commander of the Givati Brigade's Tzabar battalion broke controversial signs promoting a negative culture, sparking a mass soldier walkout. He denied disrespecting fallen soldiers' memorials and attributed the walkout to social pressure on troops. The IDF is now responding with ultimatums as tensions continue.
הידיעה ב-6 שורות · תקציר של baba
- Givati battalion commander broke signs depicting 'the devil' and 'angel of death' to combat harmful culture.
- He denied damaging memorials or disrespecting fallen soldiers in his actions.
- Many soldiers left the base due to social pressure, not independent decisions.
- Soldiers felt disrespected, leading to a rare mass walkout from the base.
- The commander allowed soldiers to return by 4 p.m., warning of consequences for absentees.
- The IDF has issued ultimatums to the protesting soldiers amid ongoing tensions.
Lieutenant Colonel Menachem, commander of the "Tzabar" battalion in the Givati Brigade, addressed parents of his soldiers to explain his actions that led to a rare mass walkout by troops. He stated that he broke wooden signs depicting figures like "the devil" and "the angel of death," which he said promoted a harmful culture linked to "Pazm games" among soldiers. Menachem emphasized that his intent was not to disrespect the memory of fallen soldiers or damage memorial sites, clarifying that the removed signs were unrelated to any commemorative areas.
The battalion commander acknowledged that many soldiers who left the base did so under negative social pressure rather than independent judgment. To allow soldiers to reconsider, he offered them the chance to return by 4 p.m., warning that those who did not would face consequences. Menachem appealed directly to parents to influence their sons' decisions.
This account contrasts with statements from one of the protesting soldiers, who claimed the commander destroyed signs that had been cherished by troops for years and that soldiers felt deeply disrespected. The soldier described the battalion as fractured and said the walkout was a response to the commander's disregard for his troops. The incident has prompted the IDF to issue ultimatums to the soldiers involved as the situation unfolds.
אותו אירוע, כפי שכל מערכת דיווחה עליו בנפרד. פתחו כמה דיווחים כדי להשוות מה כל מערכת מדגישה, ומה היא משאירה בחוץ.
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