The Israel Defense Forces on Thursday named its first openly gay major general, with the promotion of Judge Advocate General Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek to the rank.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, Attorney General Avichai Mendelblit and the members of the General Staff attended the promotion ceremony, held at the IDF's headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Afek, who was named the chief military prosecutor in 2015, officially came out as gay last year in an interview with the Israel Bar Association's journal.
"It's important for me to be a role model," Afek said in the interview, adding he hoped his coming out will help young LGBTQ people wary of enlisting in the military.
Thanking his fellow General Staff officers Thursday, Afek said, "It is a great privilege for me to serve in the IDF and contribute to the defense establishment.
"We can all be proud of the fact that, even during the most difficult and complex military campaigns, the IDF makes sure to follow the letter of the law. The IDF's commitment to doing that is a source of strength, not weakness, and it allows us to maintain the public's confidence and operate as the people's army in a democratic state," he said.
