An IDF soldier from the Nachal Brigade was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after wearing a patch on his uniform featuring the Moshiach symbol associated with Chabad, an incident that came to light when Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spotted him during a tour in Judea and Samaria and ordered disciplinary action.

Following the incident, additional penalties were handed down across the chain of command. The platoon commander received a 14-day probation sentence, the company commander was formally reprimanded, and the battalion commander was issued a citation.

According to the military, troops had been briefed in advance about the Chief of Staff’s visit, yet despite the warning, “they behaved in a manner that was inconsistent with expectations and did not comply with rules of discipline.” In response, the brigade commander convened the entire command structure to address operational discipline.

Addressing the officers, Zamir stressed the responsibility of leadership, stating, “We must see that we, as commanders, meet the norms that we expect of our subordinates, who watch us and expect us to pave their paths.”

Zamir further emphasized that military success depends not only on strength but also on adherence to values, saying, “The justice of our path is based on the spirit and values of the Israel Defense Forces, and they are an inseparable part of victory. We are a victorious army, a disciplined army that upholds its values and norms is a victorious army.”

The issue had been raised previously as well. During a conference last month with senior officers, Zamir highlighted several irregular incidents he had observed in the field, including the display of various symbols, and reportedly said the patch in question constitutes “a rebellion against IDF values.”

{Matzav.com}