Last update - 00:00 07/08/2007
Woman who impersonated IDF officer for 5 years gets arrested
By Reuters and Haaretz Service
The police arrested on Tuesday a Jerusalem resident who impersonated an Israel Defense Forces officer for five years, and even took part in last summer's war in Lebanon.
Police said the 24-year-old woman had visited army bases throughout the country dressed in uniform and carrying a replica M-16 assault rifle that had been bought from a store.
Three fake assault rifles and 4 uniforms were found during a raid of the woman's apartment, Army Radio reported. Each replica weapon was estimated at a value of NIS 4,000. A map of the locations of paratroopers' detonators was also found, and police believe it was stolen during one of the woman's tours of army bases.
The woman told the police during questioning that she was in the habit of sleeping at dorms designated for the use of soldiers across the country. During the Second Lebanon War, she apparently infiltrated an army base in the north and assisted the soldiers during battle.
The suspect admitted to the charges. She has been banned from entering IDF bases and soldiers' dorms anywhere in Israel.
"She will undergo psychological tests and the investigation is continuing. It's something we haven't dealt with before," said police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld.