The sentence imposed on a Nachal Brigade soldier who received 30 days in military prison for wearing a “Moshiach” patch on his uniform is expected to be reduced following widespread backlash and political pressure, according to a report Sunday evening by I24NEWS journalist Amiel Yarchi.

A security official familiar with the matter said the soldier is expected to receive a lighter punishment once a formal request is submitted on his behalf shortly after he enters military prison. The soldier was scheduled to begin serving his sentence Sunday night, and his combat gear has already been taken from him.

Behind the scenes, Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee chairman Boaz Bismuth and other Likud lawmakers reportedly pressured IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir, sending letters and expressing support for the soldier’s family.

Earlier Sunday, Bismuth spoke with the soldier’s parents and condemned the decision, saying, “The punishment is disproportionate. I usually do not intervene, and I respect institutions, but here you are right,” and added, “Every soldier is like my own child.”

At the same time, Bismuth published a message on X calling on the Chief of Staff to reverse the ruling. “A Nachal soldier will begin serving 30 days in prison today when his entire ‘crime’ was wearing a Moshiach patch. I call on the Chief of Staff to reverse this mistaken and extreme decision. It is not too late to correct it,” he wrote.

The controversy began last week after the commander of the Nachal Brigade sentenced the soldier to 30 days in military prison over the “Moshiach” patch. In addition, the platoon commander received a suspended 14-day sentence, while the company commander was given an official reprimand. Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir reportedly ordered the disciplinary proceedings during a visit to northern Shomron.

The IDF has argued that the punishments were not issued solely because of the patch, but also due to additional violations of accepted military conduct.

{Matzav.com}