IDF reservist mental health officer ousted from role after social media comments

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

Troops of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade carry out a drill in northern Israel, in a handout photo issued August 11, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
Troops of the 646th Reserve Paratroopers Brigade carry out a drill in northern Israel, in a handout photo issued August 11, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

A reservist mental health officer has been removed from her role after making “severe and inappropriate” remarks on social media.

Adi Angert, who served as the mental health officer for the Alexandroni Reserve Infantry Brigade, said recently on X that the religious Zionist community is a “cult of Death Eaters.”

She also claimed that the new commander of the brigade, Col. Moshe Passal, “called on his troops to commit genocide,” in a missive.

The IDF says that Angert, who is a non-commissioned officer in reserves, was called for a meeting with Passal. “The brigade commander clarified that these serious statements have no place in the IDF,” the military says.

At the end of the meeting, the head of the 91st Division — to which the Alexandroni Brigade is subordinate — decided to remove her from her role and not allow her to serve in the division in the future.

The Alexandroni Brigade has fought both in the Gaza Strip and along the northern border amid the war.

Passal, who previously commanded the Egoz Commando Unit, was critically wounded during fighting on October 7. He has since recovered and was promoted to command the reserve infantry brigade.

Most Popular