Last update - 00:00 03/09/2007
Reservist blocked from serving over erroneous drug accusation
By Yuval Azoulay, Haaretz Correspondent
A., a 32-year old who lives in central Israel, actually likes reserve duty. But for the past five years, he has been fighting to clear his name, after a mysterious bureaucratic mistake left him classified as a drug addict and barred him from serving.
The Israel Defense Forces has recognized its mistake, but A. is still uncertain whether he will be allowed to return to his reserve unit.
A. was a tank commander during his military service, and he received a presidential citation for excellence. After he was discharged, he diligently showed up for reserve duty every time he was called, he says.
The last time he served in the reserves was in 2002, during Operation Defensive Shield, when he drove a tank near Nablus.
Several months later, A. noticed something was wrong. He would receive a notice to appear forduty, and several days later, he would receive a notice cancelling the order. When he tried to find out what the problem was, he only became more confused.
Two years later, in 2004, he was called to appear before a committee for reclassification at the Human Resources division, but he could not go due to university obligations.
However, A. began digging into his case. With the help of some officers in his reserve unit, he learned that his file included drug offenses, domestic violence incidents and references to psychological problems.
"I was not sure who was crazy: me or the IDF computers," says A., who is completing a graduate degree in developmental genetics. "It was completely absurd. Why can't people do their job properly?"
The IDF was hesitant to acknowledge its mistake until A. enlisted attorney Meirav Baruch, who contacted the military advocate general, Brigadier Avihai Mandelblit, and the chief IDF spokesman, Brigadier Avi Benihu, who is in charge of freedom of information in the army.
An IDF spokesman acknowledged Sunday, "Following checks, it was found that the records were erroneous," and they have since been corrected. The spokesman said the army maintains the strictest levels of confidentiality and ethics in safeguarding soldiers' records.
A. is still not sure whether he will be allowed to go back to the reserves. However, he has greater worries: "I am concerned the mistake in the army records will harm my future: How will I be able to apply for a job that requires security clearance?" he says.