Israel’s Army Picks New Chief Rabbi Who Once Suggested Rape in War Was Permitted

Thousands of women serve in the Israeli military.


Israel’s military has nominated Rabbi Colonel Eyal Karim as its new chief rabbi—despite his past remarks implying that Jewish soldiers could rape non-Jewish women during war. Back in 2002, Karim responded to a religious website by suggesting such acts might be permissible under certain wartime conditions. A decade later, he claimed his words were taken out of context, insisting rape is always forbidden. But critics aren’t buying it, calling his appointment a disgrace to Jewish ethics and a danger to women.

The backlash has been fierce. Zehava Galon, leader of the Meretz party, slammed Karim as "racist and violent," while Aida Touma-Sliman, head of Israel’s parliamentary gender equality committee, compared his views to extremist fatwas. The military rushed to defend him, claiming his old statements were purely theoretical—but with thousands of women serving in the IDF, many are asking: Is this really the moral compass Israel’s army wants?

(Source: BBC News - Israel military rabbi criticised for rape remarks)

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