Hiddush demands: IDF, bring back family visitations on Saturdays!

Following dozens of information requests regarding the forbiddance of family visitations to IDF bases on Saturdays, two NGOs turned to the IDF. Hiddush – For Religious Freedom and Equality and the Secular Forum demanded that the IDF permit family visitations on Saturday, and the IDF responded: “We shall form a team to formulate a picture of the situation and provide recommendations.”

28/11/2019 15:52

Tags: IDF · Shabbat

IDF soldier with boy, source: Wikipedia

Family visitations on Saturdays at IDF bases are a familiar practice that has been going on for years. IDF bylaws explicitly frame these visits positively, as strengthening families' connections to the military and facilitating the recording of their children in the service. IDF bylaws state that soldiers who have not visited their homes for at least two weeks are eligible, subject to operational needs, to receive visits on the second Saturday and that religiously observant Jewish parents are permitted to visit on Fridays.

However, based upon information provided by dozens of soldiers’ parents, the practice of family visitations on Saturdays seems to have been discontinued. The bylaw that dealt with this also disappeared from the IDF's website. It is unclear whether this is for religious reasons or other unfathomable reasons, but its disappearance raised questions about whether it remains in effect. In the absence of an organized publication of the rules governing family visits, an improper situation has arisen, whereby permitting family visitations on Saturdays has come under the discretion of each Base Commander, without a clear military policy. As a result, many bases have begun disallowing family visits on Saturdays.

In May 2019, Hiddush and the Secular Forum turned to the IDF Chief of Staff and Manpower Directorate, demanding the reinstitution of family visitations on Saturdays at IDF bases. At the same time, Hiddush and the Secular Forum, under the Freedom of Information Act, requested information about the bylaw, current IDF policy on this matter, and the question of anchoring this policy in the bylaws. However, despite the law, and even though six months went by since the two NGOs’ request, no response was received - neither one regarding the essence of the matter, nor one regarding the request for information under FOIA.

Left with no other alternative, Hiddush and the Secular Forum filed a petition to the Administrative Court against the IDF officer responsible for FOIA compliance. Happily, a reply was finally received from the Chief of Staff.

Left with no other alternative, Hiddush and the Secular Forum filed a petition to the Administrative Court against the IDF officer responsible for FOIA compliance. Happily, a reply was finally received from the Chief of Staff. The letter confirmed that the bylaw on Saturday visitations was replaced by another, but the rules allowing visits on Saturdays have not changed. The chief of staff also added that “It has become clear that on a number of bases there have been no visits arranged on weekends recently, against the background of operational constraints, logistics, and other issues – each base according to its individual circumstances. As a result, it has been decided to form a military team led by an officer holding the rank of brigadier to formulate a picture of the situation and provide recommendations. The team began operating in early November, and it has been instructed to present its conclusions and recommendations within two months.”

Just as the IDF should not deprive religious soldiers of their right to observe religious laws, he must not force a religious Sabbath upon secular soldiers. We demand that the IDF reinstate Saturday family visitations to soldiers who would like to have them, as well as find a suitable alternative on Fridays for Sabbath observant families subject to operational needs.