In response to reports that he leaked classified information and was ousted from the IDF reserves, former IDF Chief Rabbi Brigadier-General Avichai Ronsky states the story is simply not true. “I have no idea what is being talked about” Rabbi Ronsky told the media, explaining he did not leak any information to Minister Naftali Bennett as is reported.

Rabbi Ronsky, who is currently not in Israel, told the media “| was shocked to hear reports that I was ousted from the military. No such thing occurred. It is no secret that Naftali Bennett and I are close friends and I spoke with him during the military operation but I never disclosed classified information. This is the first I am hearing of it. I do not know where the story originates and I certainly do not know what they are talking about”.

Rav Ronsky added that he was called up for service during Operation Protective Edge and he will be serving again in the near future.

Rabbi Ronsky, 63, entered the IDF in 1969. He served in the Paratroops Brigade and in the 1973 Yom Kippur he commanded a Sayeret Shaked unit in battle against the Egyptians. He became a baal teshuvah during his service and later studied in Merkaz HaRav and then he was a founder of the yeshiva in Alon Moreh. He is among the founding members of Yishuv Itamar where he resides today. In September 2006 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier-general and appointed the IDF’s chief rabbi, serving in that post until June 2010.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)