Military to allow civilian funerals for fallen soldiers

The Israel Defense Forces has decided to allow the civilian burial of fallen soldiers if their families say they prefer it to a military funeral. The directive further stipulates that families who wish to have a military funeral in civilian cemetery plots would be able to do so.

Nevertheless, the directive, introduced on Sunday, says that nonmilitary funeral services for fallen soldiers must be "devoid any official military markings," meaning the fallen soldier's casket would not be carried by other soldiers, and there would be no official laying of wreaths, three-volley salute or an official eulogy from the IDF.

While decisions on bereaved families' requests to deviate from the Jewish burial ritual during military funerals falls to the Military Rabbinate, requests for exceptions on civilian burial would require the authorization of head of the IDF's Casualty Department.

A statement by the IDF Spokesperson's Unit said the policy change was made "out of sensitivity to the needs and wishes of the bereaved families," and that "this policy has been in effect in the IDF for several years and has now been anchored in military orders."

The Hiddush group for religious freedom and equality claimed that the military directive was changed following a demand Hiddush presented the IDF, but military officials insisted that change stemmed from extensive preparatory work by the military.

One IDF official said at the time Hiddush approached the military on this issue, they were presented with the IDF's existing policy, told it would soon be amended, and updated as soon as it happened.