Three Meretz MKs have withdrawn their High Court of Justice petition objecting to the appointment of the IDF’s chief chaplain nominee.

MKs Zehava Galon, Michal Rozin and Tamar Zandberg announced Sunday they were removing the legal hurdle to the appointment of Col. Eyal Karim after he issued an apology last Wednesday for remarks that were perceived as condoning the assault of non-Jewish women during wartime.

In his written statement to the court, Karim apologized last week for the statements and to those who were offended by them.

“I made a mistake when I gave a short answer to a complicated question,” he wrote. “I was wrong because sometimes I was not precise with my words and some people found them offensive. I apologize.”

The left-wing lawmakers praised Karim for “the clear words that were written and for the important ethical message for the male and female IDF soldiers.”