Recruit stages protest against IDF major general - and is detained

An IDF conscript undergoing basic training staged a protest at the entrance to the Central Command base in Jerusalem with signs against the commanding officer, Major General Avi Bluth. The soldier demanded an end to the persecution of settler Tal Inon Dardik, suspected of violence against Palestinians. The protester was detained, taken to a police station, and later released; he will subsequently appear before a military court.

An IDF conscript undergoing basic training staged a protest at the entrance to the Central Command base in Jerusalem, where the office of the commanding officer, Major General Avi Bluth, is located. The soldier held signs reading: "Avi Bluth — enough with administrative orders" and "Avi Bluth — stop persecuting Tal Inon Dardik." In doing so, he expressed support for settler Tal Inon Dardik, who is suspected of involvement in severe violence against Palestinians in the village of Khirbet Homsa on the night of March 12-13, 2026. Earlier, Avi Bluth issued an administrative order for Dardik's house arrest, which was later changed under pressure from Defense Minister Israel Katz to a restraining order requiring Dardik to leave Judea and Samaria. Police were called to the protest site; the soldier was taken to the Neve Yaakov station and then released. He is later to appear before a military court. Attorney Daniel Shimshilashvili, who represented the soldier on behalf of the right-wing organization "Honenu," stated that Bluth's conduct toward Dardik is outrageous and provokes protest. The article details the suspicions against Dardik, including an incident involving a plastic zip tie, as well as the subsequent change to the order under pressure from the defense minister.