Alalam - Middle East
The High Court of Justice on Monday temporarily suspended the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim as the new Israel Defense Forces chief rabbi, saying that before he could assume the post he had to clarify remarks he made over a decade ago that were perceived as condoning rape of non-Jewish women during wartime.
The High Court was responding to a petition by the left-wing Meretz party.
Karim claims that he was speaking entirely theoretically about a Biblical passage.
He has also said that it is “entirely forbidden” for women to serve in the army for reasons of modesty, and has opposed women singing at army events as contrary to halacha, Jewish law.
According to Meretz, the justices issued an injunction on the appointment, pending an affidavit from Karim on his past and current views on wartime rape and the role of women in the military.
“The rabbi needs to say he made a mistake,” said Justice Neal Hendel during the proceedings, according to Meretz.
“The question is whether in the State of Israel, which is a Jewish and democratic state, a person like this should be given an official position,” Hendel added.
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