IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis refutes reports that the meeting between the Rishon L’Tzion Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita and Chief IDF Rabbi, Rabbi Brigadier-General Eyal Karim, was canceled due to Avigdor Lieberman’s instructions.

In an interview with Roni Daniel on Radio 103, Manelis said unequivocally: “The meeting between the Chief Military Rabbi and Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef was canceled not because of the guidance of any party, not the chief of staff or anyone else.

“We recall that at a time when the cancelation was reported, the uncle of Rabbi Yosef, Eliyahu Ovadia, died, and the funeral took place at the time when the meeting was supposed to be held.

“The reason the meeting was canceled is for technical reasons, and I can inform you that it was reconciled and will take place in the coming days. There is no instruction from the chief of staff and not from the minister in charge to meet the chief rabbi of Israel.

“And at the same time, we are subordinate to the political echelon, and if there are any such directives, we will implement them like other guidelines. ”

Daniel also tried to ask whether this was not a directive from the Defense Minister, who called for the boycott of Rabbi Shlomo Aviner Shlita and Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu Shlita following the criticism they had made against the IDF.

“Regarding the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the meeting with him was not canceled because of instructions, but because of technical reasons, and there was no instruction not to meet him, and I know that the Chief of Staff will meet him in the coming days. ”

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)