Classified IDF roles prompt probing of Air Force recruits' protest ties - report
One draftee was also asked whether her father, who is a lawyer, had contact with journalists, KAN said.
The Israeli Air Force asked new military conscripts whether they had previously participated in protests, as part of the IDF's vetting and security clearance process, Israel's public broadcaster KAN reported on Monday.
According to the report, the inductees were asked whether they had participated in protests, without specification whether these were demonstrations in calling for the return of the hostages held in the Gaza Strip.
One draftee was also asked whether her father, who is a lawyer, had contact with journalists, KAN said.
The conscripts noted that the question with regard to participation in the protest was a deterrence to participation in the demonstrations.
Others stated they had felt the need to lie about their participation for fear of being disqualified.
Military responds
"As part of the security clearance process for a classified role or position, candidates are asked questions regarding affiliation with organizations engaged in illegal activity, in order to rule out such connections," the IDF was cited as saying by KAN in response to the report.
"Candidates are not asked about political issues or political views, and such matters are not part of the security clearance process."
Following the report, the Democrats chairman, Yair Golan, issued a statement on X/Twitter, calling on IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) head Ronen Bar to clarify that "political opinions are not a crime."
סיווג ביטחוני לא נשלל, ושירות מילואים לא מופסק בגלל דעות פוליטיות.ישראל היא דמוקרטיה, צה״ל הוא צבא העם, ולא זרוע אכיפה פוליטית. הוא מגן ישראל, ולא שומר הממשלה. אני קורא לרמטכ״ל ולראש השב״כ להבהיר מיד: דעות פוליטיות הן לא פשע, ומחאה איננה עבירה. המפגינים, חותמי המכתבים וכל…
— Yair Golan - יאיר גולן (@YairGolan1) April 14, 2025