Only clear rules, command chain, can let IDF avoid internal conflict due to religion – editorial

Seven religious soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Rotem Battalion were imprisoned for refusing to board a Namer armored personnel carrier with a female paramedic in Gaza, citing violations of the IDF's Joint Service Order and agreements with religious-Zionist yeshivot. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich supported the soldiers, stating they insisted on their "right and duty" to serve while preserving their faith. The IDF emphasized its commitment to accommodating religious soldiers while also highlighting instances where mixed-gender teams have successfully operated under fire, such as female tank crews on October 7 and a female paramedic serving in a Namer with observant soldiers after a rabbinic ruling. The editorial argues for clear rules, common sense, and a defined chain of command to prevent internal conflict, stating that while accommodations should be made when possible, "When the mission leaves no realistic alternative, the commander gives the order and soldiers follow it." It criticizes Smotrich's intervention, asserting that civilian rabbis and politicians do not command IDF units and that political backing for refusing orders undermines military discipline.