Jerusalem – The Israel Defense Forces is waging a new war — against smoking.
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The military announced Sunday that on November 1 that it will stop selling cigarettes on 65 bases across the country and that it will prohibit smoking in public areas of the bases and provide limited smoking areas. The army’s Kiriya headquarters in Tel Aviv are among those where smoking will be strictly prohibited.
The new orders also proscribe smoking by commanders near their subordinate soldiers. A separate smoking area will be set up for military staff, and smoking in military vehicles also will be prohibited.
The military also will launch a campaign to raise awareness of the damage caused by smoking, and smoking cessation groups will be opened and led by the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps. Soldiers who enter the army already hooked on smoking will be identified and followed up with during their time in the military.
The new rules will be enforced through the army disciplinary code, and those in violation could be punished with a warning, detention or a more severe punishment.
In addition, cigarettes will not be accepted as donations for soldiers.
The new rules come after new army data showed that some 25 percent of male soldiers and 15 percent of female soldiers are smokers, and over 80 percent of solders claim to have been exposed to smoking in the military.
Jail is going to be crowded!
Good luck to them; look at all of the Israeli civilians who smoke. In fact, there is not one 100% smoke free hotel in all of Israel. Look at all of the frum people who smoke. Even on Shabbos, I’ve had occasion to sit near someone who stinks from cigarette smoke. The reason, is because that person was too lazy to wear different clothes, as his clothes still retained the stench of the cigarette smoke, from during the week.
It is sad that because Chareidim don’t go to the army they will not benefit.
I avoid smoke and abhor those visiting from Israel that smoke all day while asking for charitable help.
Without Torah only narishkeit takes over.
Another reason to listen to daaS torah and not go to the army.