(VIDEO IN EXTENDED ARTICLE)

In the accompanying video, one sees an officer who serves as a Givati Brigade battalion commander, holding down a soldier – who has the rank of lt.-colonel – with his face pressed to the concrete.

An investigation into the incident was conducted by the IDF and the battalion commander was reprimanded for his conduct. Military police decided not to open a criminal investigation against the lt.-colonel.

The commander did not want the soldiers to leave and caught them as they left the outpost. When they did not comply with his orders to stop, his reaction is seen in the video, pressing the soldier’s face to the ground, ordering him to get into a vehicle. At the same time, a soldier is heard calling on the commander to release the soldier from his hold.

The IDF Spokesman Unit responds:
The soldiers are not combat soldiers. The incident occurred in front of other soldiers and civilian security persons. Following an investigation carried out by the Givati Brigade Commander Colonel Dado Bar-Kalifa, and Commander of the 162nd Division, Brigadier-General Oded Basik. The battalion commander was reprimanded for his behavior”.

The video was passed to military police and the decision was made not to launch a criminal investigation. The investigation revealed the battalion remained on the base the previous Shabbos, and one of the cooks, who is completing his military service soon, refused to remain. He requested to be permitted to go home for Shabbos. He and two other cooks left the outpost and headed to a bus stop near the outpost to go home.

One of the officers realized what was occurring and notified the battalion commander, who responded within minutes. According to the probe, the battalion commander attempted to persuade the three to return to the outpost, promising to speak with them immediately in his office towards resolving the issue. He explained to them they have responsibilities towards the combatants in the battalion.

When they refused, and the commander saw the bus approaching to pick them up, he contacted the NCO of the unit and instructed him to send military police immediately. The unit was delayed so the battalion commander consulted with a military police officer on the phone, asking if he is within his authority to use force to prevent the three from leaving the outpost, located between Shechem and Kalkilye.

When the bus pulled up, according to the inquiry, the officer physically prevented the soldiers from boarding.

The battalion commander explained in the investigation that he was working for the welfare of the battalion’s fighters so that they would not remain without cooks and hot food over the weekend and also to prevent the soldiers from being in a position demanding serious punishment. The incident was immediately reported by the battalion commander, and the division commander investigated the incident and the battalion commander was reprimanded.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)