No ,it is human to be afraid but it is not acceptable when an officer carrying a weapon . .The decision to demote him is very right.

idf selection and training has to be much more intensive. It cannot afford to have soldiers flee terror attacks or to not fight back.Even with a more fragile personality, idf has to simulate barbaric situations to have the soldier battle ready. there have been recent and past cases of soldiers abandoning the fight. this also affects the morale of soldiers who do fight.