Religious Zionist activists demonstrated near the entrance to Yerushalayim on Monday evening after 16 Givati Brigade soldiers were sentenced to military jail for refusing to participate in an operational mission in Gaza because a female paramedic was assigned to accompany them.
The demonstration was held near the Chords Bridge, where protesters intermittently blocked roads leading into Yerushalayim. Police officers were deployed to clear the roadways, restore public order and keep traffic moving through the heavily traveled area.
The controversy began last week when a group of soldiers from the Givati Brigade’s Rotem Battalion refused orders to report for an operational mission in the Gaza Strip after learning that a female paramedic would be riding with them in their Namer armored personnel carrier. The mission was subsequently canceled, and commanders launched an investigation into the incident.
Throughout Monday evening, police reported repeated disturbances near the Chords Bridge as protesters periodically entered and blocked traffic lanes, including roads leading into Yerushalayim. Authorities said the disruptions interfered with traffic and the daily routine of motorists in the area.
At one point, according to police, demonstrators surrounded the vehicle of an elderly man and prevented him from continuing on his way. Officers moved in to disperse the protesters around the vehicle and enabled the driver to proceed.
Police forces remained at the scene as the demonstration continued, working to remove protesters from the roadways, maintain public order and ensure that traffic could continue flowing through the entrance to Yerushalayim.
The protest followed disciplinary proceedings against the 16 Givati soldiers involved in the refusal. Five soldiers identified as having led the incident were sentenced to 10 days in military jail, while another 11 soldiers received five-day sentences.
The IDF said the punishments were determined according to each soldier’s level of involvement in the incident. The battalion commander personally conducted the disciplinary proceedings against the soldiers.
In addition, two of the five soldiers who received 10-day sentences will be required to undergo an evaluation committee before being permitted to return to combat duty.
{Matzav.com}
