Defense Minister Yisrael Katz announced today (Sunday) that he has instructed Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir to remove Omri Ronen from any service in the IDF - after he expressed support for refusing to serve for political reasons during an interview on the program "Meet the Press" on Channel 12.
According to the minister, the IDF must remain outside of political disputes, and the phenomenon of refusal to serve in its ranks will not be allowed to return.
In a statement issued by Katz, he wrote: "Refusal will not return to the IDF. I will not allow the scourge of refusal to return to the ranks of the IDF - for any reason. Zero tolerance for refusal.".
He emphasized: "I am determined to eradicate the phenomenon of conscription from the IDF, as I have done since the beginning of my term as Minister of Defense. One rule for all. I instructed the Chief of Staff to ensure that Omri Ronen, who called for and preached conscription for political reasons, is removed from any framework of service in the IDF.".
He added: "This is the policy. This will also be done in any similar case in the future. The IDF must remain outside of political disputes, and serve Israel's security only.".
The Defense Minister's announcement came after an interview given by Ronen, a member of the "Democrats" and one of the protest leaders, during which Ronen was asked whether refusal is a legitimate tool in the fight against what he called a "coup d'état" - and he replied that in his opinion, Israeli citizens should do "everything" to prevent a "coup d'état," as he put it.
Later, when asked explicitly whether his words also included failure to appear, he replied: "Everything.".
