Givati Brigade Commander Colonel Ofir Winter has been promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and in his new assignment, he will be a project manager working to integrate more chareidim into the IDF as the new head of Central Command Headquarters, Channel 2 News reported.

The report states that it was Winter who launched the Tomer unit for chareidim in the Givati Brigade, and military officials believe he is the right man for the job – to bring more chareidim to the ranks of the IDF.

Some of the experts explain in a number of years there will be a manpower shortage following the decision to curtail mandatory service for men by four months. Hence, there is a focus on bringing in new manpower, in this case, the chareidim. The IDF is hoping Winter will find ways to bring chareidim into combat positions in the various brigades, including paratroopers.

To date a number of programs to bring chareidim into the military have been successful including Shachar in the navy and air force, as well as programs in the Intelligence Corps.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)