Yisrael Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman warned Wednesday that the Israel Defense Forces was becoming an organ of the Chief Rabbinate.
Lieberman was reacting to a booklet authored by senior rabbinical figures, among them military rabbis, with instructions for religious soldiers on how to avoid interaction with women. Israel Hayom broke the story on Tuesday.
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"The publication of a booklet with modesty guidelines for soldiers is yet another example of the radicalization of the national-religious camp, led by haredi nationalist elements," Lieberman wrote on Facebook, warning the IDF was becoming "Hashem's army" (God's army).
"This attempt to make the IDF into a haredi organization is part of this messianic trend that has been plaguing Israeli society and undermines the delicate status quo between religion and state," he continued. "This must be stopped; this booklet should not be handed out to IDF soldiers."
Lieberman has repeatedly attacked the haredi parties as part of his ongoing rift with the Right, warning that the ultra-Orthodox politicians want to promote legislation that would place heavy religious prohibitions on various activities, severely undermining secular Israelis' way of life.
