An IDF female vegan soldier was sent to jail for refusing to wear a helmet that had a leather strap. She was sent to a sentry post which requires wearing a helmet, but she refused to put it on, asking for a helmet without a leather strap. The soldier, a private, is serving on a medical corps base in northern Israel. She was sentenced to three days’ probation, which means if she repeats the same offense she will automatically be sent to jail for three days.

The soldier explains the IDF has designed a helmet that meets the needs of vegans and she is entitled to one, a helmet without leather straps. Her officer told her to use the leather helmet by tearing out all of the leather, which she feels is a “ridiculous solution”.

The soldier appealed the verdict based on the fact the IDF recognizes her right to a helmet that meets the need of her lifestyle. She adds that tearing out the leather straps would have made her guilty of intentionally vandalizing military property, which she is unwilling to do. She also maintains that since she is entitled to the non-leather helmet, the punishment meted out to her is extreme and unjustifiable.

She further maintains that if a religious soldier receives non-kosher food, he can immediate complain to the IDF Rabbinate which will act to punish those responsible. The soldier told Ynet there are currently hundreds or perhaps thousands of soldiers in the IDF who are vegan and vegetarian and the IDF is compelled to meet their needs just as it does other groups as per IDF regulations. She states in the past year there have been many complaints from soldiers who feel the military is not meeting their needs.

The IDF Spokesman explains the soldier was offered an alternative, a helmet that meets the need of her beliefs. She was punished for not obeying orders, pointing out that IDF regulations compel any soldier on guard duty to wear a helmet for their own personal safety.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)