Families protest after four Border Police soldiers disciplined for having barbecue on Shabbat

The Jerusalem Post reports on a public outcry and protests following the sentencing of four Border Police soldiers to military prison for lighting a barbecue on the Beit Horon base the previous weekend. The incident, which occurred just after Passover, has ignited a debate about proportionality in military discipline and accusations of religious coercion.

“

My daughter feels she was treated like she was nothing. Even if there was a breach of orders, where is the proportionality?

Families of the soldiers have sharply criticized the decision, with one father stating his daughter felt treated "like she was nothing." He questioned the proportionality of sending soldiers to prison for such an offense, especially when other punishments exist. The original ruling's language, reportedly including "harm to religion and Judaism," further angered the families, who see the case as an example of religious overreach disguised as a disciplinary matter.

The "Mothers on the Front" movement has joined the families in their campaign, planning demonstrations to demand the soldiers' release and the expungement of their disciplinary records. In response, Israel Police maintained that the soldiers violated base instructions and procedures publicly during a holiday period. They emphasized that the soldiers were tried and sentenced like any other compulsory-service personnel and rejected claims of mistreatment.

“

It looks like religious indoctrination. The officer who judged them chose a tone that had nothing to do with military discipline, but rather with religious values.

However, the police later announced a further reduction in the sentence, with the soldiers set to serve one week in military prison before returning to duty. This development aims to address some of the public concerns, though the underlying issues of military discipline and religious influence within the forces remain a point of contention.

“

The four soldiers violated base instructions and procedures and did so publicly during the holiday period.