'Public relations stunt'
Photo: Miri Zahi
Eizenkot: Troops didn't intend political protest
Photo: Vadim Daniel
IDF pardons dissenting troops
GOC Northern Command's pardon of five Golani soldiers, sentenced to prison for wearing shirts that say 'Golani doesn't expel Jews', hints at acceptance of parents' claim that boys were taken advantage of in PR ploy
The commander of the IDF's Northern Command, Gadi Eizenkot, has pardoned five Golani soldiers who were sentenced to
jail time after photographing themselves with shirts that said: "Golani fights enemies, it doesn't expel Jews".
The pardon was granted after the troops wrote letters of apology for their actions, clarifying that they understand the significance of their disobedience.
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The soldiers are to be released from detainment on either Thursday or Friday, and return to their battalion to continue serving in the army. Three other soldiers have not filed appeals for pardons.
Eizenkot says it has become clear to him that the soldiers did not intend a political protest, and that he accepts their claims that they were not fully aware of the violation they were committing by wearing the shirts.
Troops with shirts (Photo: Miri Tzachi, Samaria Settlers' Council)
The commander's decision hints that he understands the soldiers' moves had been manipulated for political gain. However an IDF official familiar with the case stressed that "in the end every soldier must examine his actions and behave as is expected of IDF troops".
The soldiers' parents had been the first to claim that their sons had been taken advantage of in a public relations stunt. They said that the shirts, which had the Golani logo printed on the front, were given to the soldiers by anonymous donors at a military ceremony.
"In retrospect, it turns out that their goal was to use (the soldiers) as posters," the parents wrote to Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz. "The backs of the shirts were printed with sayings that have no connection to their world views, their ways of life or their upbringing."
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