IDF Soldier Spotted Wearing Far-Right Kach Emblem Prompts Army Condemnation

A soldier in the Israel Defense Forces was photographed near Jerusalem’s Central Bus Station wearing a uniform patch featuring the emblem of the outlawed far-right Kach movement, sparking immediate condemnation from the military, Army Radio reported Saturday night.

Doron Kadosh, the station’s military correspondent, captured the image and asked the IDF for comment. The initial response emphasized that “non-IDF patches are prohibited,” but made no mention of the specific symbol’s extremist origins.

Following criticism of the muted tone, the IDF issued a stronger statement, saying it “condemns and views with severity any use of political symbols on IDF uniforms, which harms the IDF as a State army.”

The military added that if the soldier is identified, disciplinary measures will follow.

Kach, founded by Rabbi Meir Kahane in 1971, was banned from Israeli elections in 1988 for incitement to racism, and its offshoots were declared terrorist organizations after party member Baruch Goldstein’s 1994 massacre of Muslim worshipers in Hebron. Kahane was known for promoting the forced transfer of Arabs from Israel and the Palestinian territories.

The emblem’s appearance on a soldier’s uniform drew concern over extremist infiltration and raised questions about enforcement of uniform regulations. The IDF stressed that any display of political or non-military insignia violates army protocol.

The incident follows past controversies surrounding Kahanist symbolism in Israeli politics. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, now a senior figure in government, has a long history of association with Kahane’s ideology and has publicly praised him in the Knesset. Share this article or subscribe to our newsletter for updates.