IDF Soldiers Ordered to Carry Firearms While on Leave

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot ordered all soldiers who go on leave from their base to take their firearms with them, in response to the stabbing attack that took the life of an off-duty soldier last week.

Sgt. Tuvia Yanai Weisman, Hy”d, 21, who was killed in a terror attack at the Rami Levy supermarket in Shaar Binyamin, had been forbidden to leave base with his gun.

Nahal Brigade Commander Col. Amos Hacohen launched an investigation on Monday to determine why Weisman’s commanding officer did not permit him to take his gun with him. A number of complaints have been made about the policy, especially following last week’s incident.

“We will refresh instructions to soldiers on how to secure their firearms during their breaks,” an IDF source said, addressing concerns that guns taken home with them are vulnerable to theft. The IDF policy until now has been to require soldiers to check in their weapons when they go on leave for longer than three days.