map of israel, page-103

Iamtheoracle,

Good morning.
Here is an article on the growing incidence of religious bias and intolerance in Israel today. This relates mainly to the military, but is also spreading in society in general.
Obviously you werent aware of it?

"A senior officer in the Personnel Directorate notes that “Jewish identity in the army is undergoing a sharp shift. In the past the approach was that Orthodox rules were observed in public and at home every soldier did whatever he wanted. Nowadays, the army is deciding for you what kind of Jew you will be: a national-religious Jew. The Education Corps is very weak in the face of the military rabbinate. The army’s original approaches are constantly being eroded.” "

http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/mess-report/is-the-idf-becoming-an-orthodox-army-1.374653

"Specifically, the impact of rabbis and religious officers on the day-to-day life of the military, beyond the basic rights promised to them by IDF regulations. "

"These struggles have been teeming beneath the surface for several years. The promotion of religious soldiers in combat units to the rank of officer or other intermediate levels has created a gradual cultural shift in the army. The change has caused clashes for two reasons: the national religious community’s general tendency to hold dear to traditional values, as well as growing activity among the military’s rabbinate. "

"Lately, since the rabbis began fearing that Gantz may draw “red lines” which will forbid changing the status quo as it pertains to the wording of the “Yizkor” (which adopted a particular text unacceptable to many rabbis), or the issue of women singing in public, the national religious has become more openly critical of IDF policy. "
http://www.haaretz.com/blogs/mess-report/in-the-idf-it-s-the-officers-vs-the-rabbis-1.395530

" Published 00:55 14.11.11
Latest update 00:55 14.11.11

Top IDF officers urge Barak to fight religious discrimination of women
Appeal comes in response to a series of recent events, including the boycotting of military ceremonies by religious cadets due to women singing.
By Amos Harel Tags: IDF Orthodox Jews Ehud Barak


Nineteen reserve major generals sent a letter last night to Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz, imploring them not to allow harm to come to women's service in the army as a result of religious soldiers' demands.

The reserve officers indicated that their appeal comes in response to a series of recent events, including the boycotting of military ceremonies by religious cadets due to women singing. The petitioners warned in their letter about harm caused to the motivation of women to serve in the army, as well as to what they termed damage to "the fundamental values of Israeli society."
Benny Gantz - Yaron Kaminsky - 14112011

IDF chief Benny Gantz, who recently asked the head of the army’s personnel directorate to examine the treatment of women in the military.
Photo by: Yaron Kaminsky

Among other petitioners, the letter was signed by former heads of the Israel Air Force Avihu Bin-Nun and Amos Lapidot, and reserve major generals Menachem Einan and Zeev Livne.

The letter constitutes a new, dramatic level of intervention in an issue that has sparked controversy in the army in recent months. Outgoing head of the IDF personnel directorate, Major General Avi Zamir, stridently attacked the phenomenon of the exclusion of women in his departure letter to the chief of staff. Also, a report formulated by a consultant committee to the chief of staff related to the issue. Both of these documents were published by Haaretz.

Recently, Gantz asked the present head of the personnel directorate, Major General Orna Barbivai, to reexamine the army's treatment of the issue of "suitable integration" - that is the service of women and religious soldiers.

In their letter to Barak and Gantz, the reserve major generals wrote: "As people who served for many years in the IDF, we are writing to you about a subject of utmost importance. We do so out of genuine concern about the IDF's image as the people's army, and due to an authentic desire to preserve the army's strength, to protect the country, and to guard the fundamental democratic values of Israeli society."

The letter continues: "Recently, the media has reported several grave events pertaining to tension involving the service of religious soldiers and women soldiers in the IDF. Among other incidents, these include: religious-influenced demands that women take leave of combat positions, combat supporting positions and combat training positions to which they have been assigned; the separation of women soldiers from their units during ceremonies and official events as a result of religious considerations; demands to prevent women from singing at such events; and the demand that women be fenced in a closed, isolated area when Simhat Torah dances were held. This atmosphere harms the promotion of women to command roles in the IDF." "

"The removal of women from an array of core positions, the separation of women from the public sphere, and the forcible imposition of behavioral norms suited to a small portion of the religious population upon the army as a whole - all this causes serious damage to the army's image, and does not adhere to the IDF's spirit and ethos." "

http://www.haaretz.com/print-edition/news/top-idf-officers-urge-barak-to-fight-religious-discrimination-of-women-1.395402

Doesnt sound too democratic, mate. Thank goodness some in the military are opposing it.
But similar instances of bias have been growing in civilian society.


GZ