A battalion commander set a 16:00 deadline for soldiers who left the base, warning that those who fail to return will be reported as AWOL and may lose their combatant designation, according to a message from the unit. Soldiers who return by the deadline will face no punishment and be released for the weekend.
In a message circulated Thursday afternoon, a battalion commander set a 16:00 deadline for soldiers who left the base, warning that those who fail to return will be reported as absent without leave (AWOL) and may lose their combatant designation. Soldiers who return by the deadline will face no punishment and be released for the weekend, according to the message from the unit.
The deadline mirrors the timeline set earlier Thursday by the commander of the Tzabar Battalion, who broke wooden unit signs representing "Satan" and "Angel of Death" citing concerns over abusive traditions, and informed parents of the 16:00 ultimatum. The Zioneer first reported the Tzabar commander's actions at 14:34 Jerusalem, with multiple updates detailing the breaking of the signs, the soldiers' accounts, and the commander's message to parents. As of the initial reports, the soldiers who had left the base had not yet returned.
The new ultimatum adds specific consequences beyond those mentioned by the Tzabar commander: AWOL soldiers may be reported to the military police, lose their combatant designation, and forfeit their battalion weekend. The moves reflect ongoing efforts by IDF commanders to enforce discipline and address absenteeism amid a broader manpower crisis. The IDF recently warned of near-record draft evasion figures, with an official projecting 90,000 evaders, as The Zioneer reported on June 30.
18 developments
- DevelopingGivati Brigade commander calls Sde Teiman rebellion 'serious incident,' demands soldiers maintain standards
- StrongSde Teiman battalion commander sends message to parents: return by 16:00, no punishment
- StrongCommentator Dor P. releases full statement on Sde Teiman rebellion, quotes Ben-Gurion
- StrongReserve Colonel Yoni Shtabon slams Givati soldiers for abandoning Sde Teiman base
Source and signal
- Open-source intake