http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/eating-pork-sandwich-gets-israeli-soldier-in-trouble-1.3096595A U.S.-born Israeli soldier has been spared from discipline after violating the Israeli military's kosher rules by eating a pork sandwich while in uniform.
The military said Tuesday that the soldier, whose name hasn't been released, "violated rules and regulations," which required him to be disciplined.
However, the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) decided to rescind an initial 11-day detention after public outcry.
The soldier was at first given an 11-day prison sentence, which was converted to being confined to base for the same duration after relatives talked to the media and a lawmaker wrote to the defence minister about the case.
"Bottom line — we made a mistake," IDF spokesman Brig.-Gen. Moti Almoz said on Facebook regarding the sentence.
"There are tensions in Israeli society, and there are varied positions and opinions. In the IDF, there is room for everyone."
Israel Radio said the soldier, who moved to Israel from Boston recently, was unaware of the army's strict dietary restrictions and was merely snacking on a lunch his secular grandmother had made him.
Israel's army maintains kosher kitchens on its bases.