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Women's groups and MPs denounce appointment of IDF's chief rabbi Women's groups denounce Israeli military over nominee for chief rabbi
(35 minutes later)
Women’s groups and members of the Israeli parliament have criticised the Israeli military after it emerged that its nominee for the role of chief military rabbi had made historic remarks – later clarified – that appeared to defend the rape of non-Jewish women by soldiers in wartime. Women’s groups and members of the Israeli parliament have criticised the Israeli military after it emerged that its nominee for the role of chief military rabbi had in the past made remarks – later clarified – that appeared to defend the rape of non-Jewish women by soldiers in wartime.
The row erupted after it was announced that Rabbi Colonel Eyal Karim had been earmarked to head Israel’s military rabbinate despite making the remarks 14 years ago on a religious website. The comments, first made in 2002, were later clarified by Karim, 59, on the same website in 2012. He insisted his words had been taken out of context, adding that rape is forbidden “in any situation”. The row erupted soon after it was announced that Rabbi Colonel Eyal Karim had been earmarked to head Israel’s military rabbinate. The comments were first published in 2002 on a religious website. In 2012 on the same website he said his words had been taken out of context and rape was forbidden “in any situation”.
After Karim’s appointment was announced on Monday, members of the Knesset and women’s rights organisations called for the decision to be revoked. Israeli newspapers republished the remarks after his nomination was announced on Monday, and members of the Knesset and women’s rights organisations called for the decision to be revoked.
Karim’s remarks, along with other comments he has made, were cited by critics who said they showed hostility to women and women serving in the Israeli armed forces. Critics said other comments he had made also showed hostility towards women serving in the Israeli armed forces, and towards women generally.
The row ignited just hours after his appointment was announced on Monday, with Israeli newspapers republishing the remarks originally made to the religious website Kipa. In a Q&A section called Ask the Rabbi on the website Kipa in 2012, as part of a discussion of the Torah’s attitude towards rape in wartime, Karim was asked: “Is it allowed in our time for an IDF soldier, for example, to rape girls during a fight, or is such a thing forbidden?”
In a question and answer section called Ask the Rabbi, on the Torah’s attitude towards rape during wartime, he was asked about whether it was justified for an IDF soldier to “rape girls during a fight”. Karim answered – in the past tense and referring more generally to sexual relations with non-Jewish women – that “since the success of the whole at war is our goal, the Torah permitted the individual to satisfy the evil urge ... for the purpose of the success of the whole.” Karim answered – in the past tense and referring more generally to sexual relations with non-Jewish women – that “since the success of the whole at war is our goal, the Torah permitted the individual to satisfy the evil urge … for the purpose of the success of the whole.”
Although different translations of Karim’s comments have appeared in several Israeli media outlets, they all seemed to demonstrate an apparent failure to disavow rape in war at the time he made the remarks. Although different translations of Karim’s comments have appeared in several Israeli media outlets, they all seem to demonstrate an apparent failure to disavow rape in war.
When the comments received belated and widespread media attention for the first time in 2012, Karim issued a clarification to the same website insisting: “Obviously, in our times, when the world has advanced to a level of morality in which one does not marry captives, one must not perform this act, which is also entirely against the army’s values and orders.” When the comments received widespread media attention for the first time in 2012, Karim issued a clarification to the same website, saying: “Obviously, in our times, when the world has advanced to a level of morality in which one does not marry captives, one must not perform this act, which is also entirely against the army’s values and orders.”
According to reports in the Israeli media on Tuesday, Karim again apologised for his remarks after being called in for meeting with a senior military officer.According to reports in the Israeli media on Tuesday, Karim again apologised for his remarks after being called in for meeting with a senior military officer.
An Israeli military spokesman insisted that Karim’s remarks should not be read as a response to “practical Jewish law” but as theoretical and “interpretive.” An Israeli military spokesman said Karim’s remarks should not be read as a response to “practical Jewish law” but as theoretical and “interpretive”.
“Rabbi Karim has never written, said or even thought that an Israeli soldier is permitted to sexually assault a woman in war, and anyone who interprets his words otherwise is completely mistaken,” the statement said. “Rabbi Karim has never written, said or even thought that an Israeli soldier is permitted to sexually assault a woman in war, and anyone who interprets his words otherwise is completely mistaken,” the spokesman said.
Zahava Galon, leader of the leftwing Meretz party, called on Facebook for Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to intervene in the appointment. She described Karim as morally unsuitable for the post of chief rabbi in a military in which thousands of women serve. Zahava Galon, leader of the leftwing Meretz party, called on Facebook for Israel’s prime minister, Binyamin Netanyahu, to intervene in the appointment. She said Karim was morally unsuitable for the post of chief rabbi in a military in which thousands of women serve.
It is not the first time that Karim has been drawn into controversy over his views. A part of the military rabbinate he was formerly the leader of published a booklet in 2013 stating that “the concept that non-Jews have equal rights with Jews in Israel goes against the opinion of the Torah, and the state’s representatives have no authority to act against the Torah’s will”. It is not the first time that Karim has been drawn into controversy over his views. A part of the military rabbinate he formerly headed published a booklet in 2013 stating that “the concept that non-Jews have equal rights with Jews in Israel goes against the opinion of the Torah, and the state’s representatives have no authority to act against the Torah’s will.” The Israeli military apologised for publishing the booklet and rejected its claims.
The Israeli military apologised for publishing the booklet and rejected its claims. In 2002 Karim wrote that women’s enlistment in the military should be forbidden, and in 2011 he objected to women singing at military events.
In 2002, Karim wrote that women’s enlistment in the military should be forbidden, while in 2011 he objected to women singing at military events.