Report: IDF troops allegedly abused comrade for eight months
Kfir Brigade soldier nicknamed 'punching bag' beaten, humiliated on almost daily basis, reports Israel Radio.
By Haaretz Service Tags: Israel newsThe Israel Defense Forces is investigating allegations that soldiers in the Kfir infantry brigade repeatedly abused one of their comrades over the course of eight months, Israel Radio reported.
The soldier, from the Lavi Battalion, recently revealed to his family that troops in his company would beat him on an almost daily basis, according to Israel Radio.He told his family about the ordeal after a particularly brutal incident, after which he required hospital treatment. He reportedly said that a soldier who nicknamed him "punching bag" elbowed him in the face, causing him to fall to the ground.
While he was on the floor, the other soldier bit his hand and then a group of troops jumped on top of him; the platoon sergeant subsequently arrived and dispersed the group.
That evening, no one approached him to check up on his condition as he washed the blood from his face and hands, Israel Radio said, and he only went to an army clinic on the following day, where he recounted what had happened.
"He was scared to tell, and only later did he say in tears what he had been through for eight months - abuse, humiliation and threats in the company," the soldier's sister was quoted as saying.
"For example they would put insects in his bed when he was asleep and he would wake up in terror; they put a lighter next to his legs and he would jump up from sleep; on two instances they bound him with handcuffs."
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there may have been nowhere to complain
in THIS particular unit? he's probably a humanist.
The Kfir Brigade has a seriously defective command structure.
this kind of humiliation of young soldiers is common in the russian army, it is called dedovshina( which basically means: "the old soldiers rule") i wouldn't be surprised if it turned out that the perpetrators were immigrants from russia,.
"Punching Bag" is not a nickname you want to own. There are independent ways to lodge complaints outside of your chain of command if your non-com and lieutenant won't help out. It is not considered a "kvitzah" to use these resources. Being a soldier is no excuse for being abused.
If soldiers cant behave in an appropriate manner to which the IDF ascribes too. they shouldnt be given the profile for certain jobs,infact just exempt idiots who show abusive tendencies towards civilians and fellow soldiers. give them a 15% Profile and send them home, they dont deserve to serve in the IDF. what is going on in Lishqat Hagius exactly???
but why?
Having spent a lot of time in the military, (a LOT) and in an "elite" special function infantry unit. In open barracks circumstances, I get the "feel" of a BS factor in this story. A single incident, or two, likely or possible. Eight months? Without NCO's hearing or observing performance issues resulting? Maybe in Russia or Romania, or Ghana. Not the IDF. No reports made? No medical issues? I DONT think so. Possible? Anything is possible, but there is an aroma about this story, that is quite discernible.
The Kfir Brigade is renowned for its brutality. The first people you should ask are the Palestinians who are routinely on the receiving end of their brutality; it is no accident that this brutality will permeate the very fabric of every unit. Remember the incident of the officer ordering the solider to shot the tied up Palestinian in the foot? Kfir Brigade. This entire regiment needs to be disbanded. It is corrupted by the Heseder politics and morally corrupted by its own brutality to all, including its own sons. This is a job for the Magav.
With this and the rebellious, political troops, it's clear something is rotten in the Kfir brigade.
What do you expect when year after year Israel's young people are fed the ideology that respect and security are gained through force. Israel must counter this danger and her leaders must encourage a return to a more humanistic society, firstly by their own example.
This is unacceptable and could have happened in any circumstances even between civil citizens. What is ununderstandable is that the soldier has been transported to a military clinic and no one, not even doctors, asked the right questions...!!! Even no one in the army hierarchy asked the right questions considering his wounds...!!! For the responsible soldiers, a public trial should take place-because different liabilities (army, doctors, soldiers) are to be raised, of national interest. As for the soldiers, if found guilty of tehe very reported facts after a fair trial, the maximum legal penalty should be applied. Because what is concerned here is the moral standard of the country, which have to be among the highest, considering the jewish nature of the state and the violence faced by jews through history.
Where were the commanders? The abusive soldiers all need jail time, and the commanders should be decommissioned and serve time as well. You can't tell me they didn't know. If they didn't then they are also too obtuse to command a unit.
This is hard to believe, but if it is true it is worse than a disgrace. Israel as a a Jewish country is supposed to embody the highest humane values, one of which is not doing unto others what we do not want done to ourselves. The lack of mercy and kindness in such bullying, again if it is true, makes me wonder if we have gone completely off the mark.