IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkott has announced he is cutting the number of positions for officers serving in the IDF Rabbinate by 25%, Galei Tzahal (Army Radio) reported on Tuesday, 10 Elul. The cut is part of the IDF multiyear fiscal efficiency program.

In addition to the military rabbinate, there is a 25% cut planned for the Education Corps and a number of positions in the crops will be eliminated entirely.

The master economic plan is dubbed ‘Eitz HaSadeh’ and most of the cuts will be non-combat related. It is explained that in combat units there is one lt.-colonel overseeing five majors so it is felt there is no justification that today, in non-combat settings, there is one lt.-colonel for three officers of the rank of major and this too will change drastically. Many positons will be eliminated and those remaining will have to become far more efficient.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)