Four boot camp hesder yeshiva soldiers on Sunday refused on ideological grounds to visit the grave of late Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on Mount Herzl, Israel Radio reported Wednesday night. After being told that they would face court martial for refusing orders, they fled from their base.
The soldiers, who serve in the Artillery Corps, were on a tour of Mount Herzl in Jerusalem, and refused to visit the grave of the murdered prime minister. In response, their company commander informed them that they would be punished. On Tuesday, the four soldiers abandoned their base and have not yet returned.
The IDF Spokesperson’s Office issued a statement saying: “The incident is not consistent with IDF values, and the case is being handled by the relevant authorities.”