High Court ends freeze on appointment of new IDF chief rabbi

The High Court lifts an interim freeze on the appointment of Eyal Karim as the next IDF chief rabbi, as opponents to the move drop their petition against the nomination stemming from years-old remarks seen to condone the assault of non-Jewish women during wartime.

Meretz MKs Zehava Galon and Tamar Zandberg, who filed the petition, say they no longer see a legal objection to the appointment, after Karim issued an affidavit last week clarifying his remarks.

Karim told the High Court that he never said, wrote or thought that it was permissible for Israeli soldiers to rape women during battle, after he was ordered to clarify controversial comments he made over a decade ago.

“It is a shame that the respondent’s clear words in his affidavit were not said sooner,” writes Chief Justice Miriam Naor as the injunction is lifted, according to Channel 10.