Brothers in Arms fumes after ‘minister of draft dodging’ Katz blocks promotion of reservist officer involved in group

Responding to Defense Minister Israel Katz’s decision to block the promotion of Col. (res.) German Giltman, the Brothers in Arms protest group slams Katz as the “minister of draft dodging.”

“Israel Katz, who is pushing a [draft] evasion scheme for tens of thousands of Haredim, dares to disqualify a senior officer with 30 years of dedicated service to the state,” says the group with which Giltman was affiliated after his retirement from the IDF.

“Giltman, who served dozens of days in reserve duty and who reported for duty immediately on October 7 — he is Katz’s enemy,” Brothers in Arms says.

“But draft dodgers who declare ‘we will die before we enlist’ — for them, he hands over an evasion scheme. There has never been a defense minister who harmed the country’s security and the fighters’ morale like the minister of draft dodging. Katz does not fight Israel’s enemies — he fights the heroes who defend it,” the protest group adds.

During the war, Giltman served some 700 days in reserves as a “combat manager” and the chief of staff of the 162nd Division, which operated in the Gaza Strip for many months.

Giltman’s promotion and appointment to a senior role in the Ground Forces were recommended to Zamir by senior officers, including Operations Division chief Maj. Gen. Itzik Cohen, who was the commander of the 162nd Division — and Giltman’s commander — for most of the war.