A very rare time that I agree with the ISM.
What is Israel?
It is a democracy. We die for this democracy for which the IDF protects. A Jewish army which embraces the finest of Jewish values.
I held off commenting but can no longer remain silent.
I have served for over 20 years, many as an officer, in the IDF.
At IDF security checkpoints we talk with unarmed civilians.
We do not beat them. That is the difference between Israel and Iran / Syria.
In that time I served at many checkpoints. I know procedure and military law. I am also a professional photographer. The video shown here was not edited from the second it started to run to 15 seconds into the tape where the IDF officer is clearly seen assaulting the protestor.
The protestor was unarmed.
The protestor made no threatening moves at the officer.
One must be either blind or in denial of what we clearly see to even think that an IDF officer who beats up unarmed protestors is a "hero".
We are not Nazis.
We are not Iran or Syria.
Many of you know me. I have spent thousands of days protecting and defending Israel's image - but I, as like the reporter from the Jerusalem Post, the IDF Chief of Staff and the PM will not white wash this or cover it up.
Israel has one of best armies in the world (if not the best) and we, as in all armies, have a few bad apples. We do make mistakes. But brutal, sadistic, unprovoked behavior as we have witnessed here does not belong in the IDF - unless we begin to consider ourselves equal to the armies of Iran and Syria.
As I stated earlier when this video was first uploaded into YouTube, this officer would be relieved of his command and sent to military court. We will not judge this officer - the military court will.
Unless he had been physically threatened, he had no right whatsoever to thrust his rifle into someones face. Even under gunfire, we do not respond like this. This was not IDF military procedure as I learned it.
What distinguishes the IDF from all other armies is our ability to communicate, share and learn from one another. Moshe Pvt. can and will speak his mind to Moshe the General. We embrace the courage of David, the might of Samson and the wisdom of Solomon.
We will not allow a few bad soldiers to tarnish the names of thousands who serve the IDF and of every citizen of Israel.
I do fault the IDF for not having deployed Humanitarian Officers to checkpoints.
Please see: http://www.israelnewsagency.com/israelcheckpointsidfqalandiya126042.html
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday condemned the beating of the pro-Palestinian activist by a senior IDF officer.
"Such behavior does not characterize IDF soldiers and officers and has no place in the Israel Defense Forces and in the State of Israel," Netanyahu said.
G-d bless our men and women in the IDF and provide them with the wisdom to know right from wrong.
"Such behavior does not characterize IDF soldiers and officers and has no place in the Israel Defense Forces and in the State of Israel," Netanyahu said.
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