Rabbi Col. Eyal Karim was named Chief Rabbi of the Israeli Defense Force in July 2016.

Rabbi Karim has faced substantial criticism for his extreme views.

When asked if soldiers were permitted to rape women during war, Karim replied that, as part of maintaining fitness for the army and the soldiers' morale during fighting, it is permitted to "breach" the walls of modesty and "satisfy the evil inclination by lying with attractive Gentile women against their will, out of consideration for the difficulties faced by the soldiers and for overall success."

In 2011, the colonel gave an opinion that, according to Jewish law, female singers should not perform at IDF ceremonies.

"It's desirable to create a ceremonial post that respects the views of all those present at the ceremony, and, to that end, to bring a male and not a female singer," he wrote.

"When this would not be possible, due to various reasons, those whose sensitivities would be offended must be excused from attending the ceremony."

After Karim was announced as the intended new IDF chief rabbi, members of Knesset and women's rights organizations called for the decision to be revoked.

The head of the Knesset Committee on the Status of Women and Gender Equality, MK Aida Touma-Sliman (Joint Arab List), said, "Col. Karim's ruling on permitting raping non-Jewish women is similar to the fatwa of a murderous organization that's not so far from Israel's borders.

I will contact the attorney general and oppose the appointment, and I call on female and male members of Knesset to join my request."

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