Female soldier (illustration)
Photo: Efi Shrir
4 soldiers arrested on suspicion of raping a female soldier
Commanders shocked to find four army cooks naked in barracks with female soldier. Military police report alcohol was found in their room. Female soldier initially told investigators she has no recollection of what had happened and then said she had been raped. Male soldiers claim sex was consensual
The Military Police arrested four soldiers on suspicion they raped a female soldier during the weekend at the base of one of the regional brigades stationed in the West Bank, apparently under the influence of alcohol.
Officer Convicted
Hanan Greenberg
Officer convicted of raping female soldier who served under his command, court rejects claim that the intercourse was consensual. Meanwhile MP's investigate second rape allegation in barracks
On Monday the Military Prosecution is expected to file a request to extend the arrest of the four soldiers – all of whom say the sexual contact was consensual, however initial evidence points seems to indicate otherwise.
Base commanders stormed into one of the rooms in the men's barracks and were shocked to discover the unclothed four soldiers – all serving as cooks on the base – with a female soldier, who was also in a state of partial undress. The soldiers had reportedly been shouting and singing loudly. Several empty bottles of alcohol were recovered from the room.
The incident was immediately reported to the top commanders of the brigade and to the military police. Investigators who arrived at the scene initially had difficulty collecting testimonies – as the parties involved in the incident were still inebriated. When the effects of the alcohol had faded one of the soldiers told the investigators that he and his friends had drunk a small amount of alcohol and that everything that had transpired was consensual.
The female soldier initially said she had no recollection of what had happened in the room but later stated that she had been raped by the soldiers, adding that they had also been violent. Nes Ben-Natan, the attorney representing on the soldiers, said that while the incident had been a moral failing on the part of the soldiers, there had been no criminal offense since the female soldier had come willingly. "There is room for disciplinary action here, but not arrest," said Ben-Natan.
The IDF is treating the matter very seriously said a military source involved in the investigation: "It is only fitting that the incident be investigated thoroughly. The fact that four soldiers were in a room with a female soldier while they were drinking alcohol and there was sexual intercourse of any kind – is very serious. The behavior of the soldiers is a breach of military protocol, and if the female soldier was indeed harmed – then the military police must be allowed to investigate and they will be brought to justice by the military court."
