February 23
10:22
2016
Israeli soldiers have been ordered to take their guns with them when off duty to allow them to intervene in the event of Palestinian attack, the military said on Tuesday. Israeli military chief of staff Lieutenant General Gadi Eisenkot has now "ordered that soldiers carry their weapons even outside of their service," including while going home for leave, an army spokeswoman told AFP. Soldiers had not previously been allowed to take their guns with them while on leave out of fear they could be stolen or used to commit suicide.