Last update - 00:00 03/10/2006
IDF Chief of Staff makes peace with country's gay community
By Reuters and Tamara Traubmann, Haaretz Correspondent
Israel Defense Forces chief, Lieutenant General Dan Halutz, made peace with the country's gay community on Tuesday after he seemed to suggest publicly that homosexuality was unspeakable.
Halutz was quoted by the Hebrew-language newspaper Yedioth Aharonoth as saying in a speech last month: "There are two genders -- men and women. Actually there is another one you are not allowed to mention."
Shai Doitch, spokesman for Aguda, Israel's gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender association, said Halutz told the group that he had not referred to gays when he made his comments.
He did not specify who the comments referred to.
"The environment (at the meeting) was very accepting," Doitch said. "We made our points and the army chief noted them and promised to deal with them."
Aguda's chairman, Mike Hamel, said while there was no official discrimination in the ranks, gays still faced the same difficulties they encountered in civilian life.
An Israeli army statement said a liaison officer would be appointed to deal with the gay community's concerns, adding: "The army is open to the service of the men and women of the (gay) community in all levels of command and for any duty.