The Israeli military is changing its enlistment forms to acknowledge sensitivities of the LGBT community.
By World Israel News Staff
The IDF is confirming that a directive has been issued to alter enlistment forms so that the spaces for a soldier’s parents will no longer read: Mother and Father, but instead – Parent 1 and Parent 2.
The decision, reported on IDF Radio Tuesday morning, has been made to reflect sensitivities toward soldiers who are children of same-sex couples.
“The IDF updates and makes changes to its questionnaires periodically in accordance with directives which are received and needs which arise in the application process,” said the IDF spokesperson’s office.
The announcement follows a prolonged campaign waged by LGBT activists.
However, it has resulted in reactions of outrage from some religious groups, including one which called on soldiers to cross out the terms ‘Parent 1’ and ‘Parent 2’ from the form.
Opponents to the change accuse the IDF of making the switch without a public debate and in acquiescence to the demands of a small segment of the population without taking into account the sensitivities of a far-larger majority.
Some have mocked the decision, with one rabbi suggesting that the 10 Commandments should be amended from “Honor thy father and thy mother” to “Honor Parent 1 and Parent 2.” A religious journalist ridiculed the prospect that a baby’s first word would not be “Daddy,” but “Parent 1” instead.