A furor arose in Israel after IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir on Wednesday ordered severe and unprecedented disciplinary action against an IDF soldier for wearing a “Moshiach” patch on his combat vest.

Not only was the soldier punished with a 30-day military prison sentence, but his commanders were also severely disciplined. The soldier’s platoon commander was sentenced to a 14-day suspended prison sentence, and the battalion commander received a formal command reprimand that was added to his personal record.

The incident began when Zamir visited a Nachal Brigade company stationed in Sa-Nur in the northern Shomron. During the tour, he noticed the soldier wearing the patch and ordered immediate disciplinary action for violating army regulations prohibiting unauthorized symbols on uniforms.

The harsh disciplinary measures sparked outrage from many religious and right-wing figures, and even from many secular military journalists, who noted that in past similar cases, the IDF simply issued a warning or ordered the symbol removed.

“Sending a combat soldier to prison for a month because of a ‘Moshiach’ patch is insanity,” Ynet military correspondent Yossi Yehoshua wrote.

“For smashing a statue of Jesus while committing three or four criminal offenses and causing a major international crisis—21 days in military detention. Demanding proportional punishment is not defending the act.”

Channel 12 military correspondent Nitzan Shapira summed up his view in one sentence: “My opinion, in short: extreme overreach.”

Veteran military correspondent Menachem Horowitz wrote: “This is certainly a serious disciplinary offense, but Zamir should know that what strengthens quite a few soldiers risking their lives in combat is precisely this patch, so perhaps he could have been less strict, especially these days when the IDF is lacking so many soldiers.”

Likud MK Boaz Bismuth stated: “The decision to punish a soldier for wearing a ‘Moshiach’ patch is severe and outrageous. Only a year ago, Chief of Staff Zamir spoke very differently. He must explain what has changed and whether political or media pressure is being placed on the IDF’s senior command. The army must maintain discipline, but also fairness. Release the soldier now!”

Many Israelis, including religious soldiers and their relatives, view the drastic punishment as an effort by the IDF’s senior command to impose secular-liberal norms while ignoring the religious feelings of soldiers on the front lines. Is religious faith viewed as such a great threat that the price is a month in prison?

Noam chairman Avi Moaz has repeatedly slammed Zamir for calling for Chareidim to enlist, while on the other hand, refusing to accommodate their religious needs and giving in to far-left and progressive agendas. Religious Zionist MK Ohad Tal revealed earlier this week that Zamir has been refusing for months to meet with Dati Leumi Rabbanim over this issue of the integration of women into tank units.

It should be noted that this is not the first time that religious soldiers have been handed unprecedented punishments.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)