IDF Rabbi Amital Bareli was sentenced to four and a half months in prison and demoted from the rank of first lieutenant to private after calling on soldiers to ignore orders about a month ago.
The sentence was handed down following a plea bargain approved by the court.
The incident in question occurred at Gaza’s Kissufim crossing on July 24. The rabbi arrived at the checkpoint wearing his army uniform and despite TV cameras present in the area called on soldiers to ignore the order to prevent Israelis from entering Gush Katif.
“I don’t understand what’s going on here, how can you do such thing,” he said. “We’re the Israel Defense Force. An army whose purpose is to safeguard the State of Israel, protect the people of Israel, not expel brothers from their home. We didn’t join the IDF for that.”
The rabbi then told forces they must not follow blatantly illegal orders.
“I would not give my soldiers an order that contradicts IDF values, Jewish tradition, and Zionism,” he said. “An order that contradicts all those things must not be carried out.”
Bareli was detained and last week was charged with incitement to rebellion, a severe offence that is punishable by seven years in prison. During his time in prison, he was visited by the army’s chief rabbi and expressed remorse for his actions.
In recent days, the parties have been engaged in negotiations in a bid to agree on a plea bargain. Under the agreement the rabbi was charged with a less severe offence.