Israeli Army Bars Soldier From Reserve Service for Beating Up Left-wing Activist
No legal action has been taken against Alon Segev, who was caught on film attacking an activist escorting Palestinians to pick olives in the West Bank
The Israeli army has barred a reserve soldier from any future service for beating up a human rights activist in the West Bank last year. However, no legal action has been taken against him.
The soldier, Alon Segev, was found to have acted improperly in the August 2018 incident near the Jewish settlement of Pnei Hever, east of the city of Hebron, the military prosecution notified Monday activist Guy Butavia's legal representative Itay Mack.
Butavia was attacked when he and other activists with anti-occupation organization Ta'ayush were escorting Palestinians to pick olives in the groves. In a video of the incident, caught on film by Butavia himself, Segev is heard saying "There is the Anarchists Against the Wall march, the Slut Walk and the march of traitors – which one are you?"
After the incident, Segev wrote on Facebook that "some people still do reserve service, and some people have a hobby of filming, pestering and cursing soldiers on Saturday morning." He called on "anyone who supports the Israel Defense Forces" to "help me isolate these people," urging others not to employ them or support any business they work for.
Butavia said that the events validate the original complaint and demonstrate that "cameras are our best defense. Human rights activists like me who are out in the field see on a daily basis that Segev effectively represents commonly-held opinions among soldiers and officers, and therefore it is no wonder that the military prosecution … decided not to pursue legal proceedings against Segev."
The IDF and Segev declined to comment.