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Photo: Herzel Yosef

Givati soldiers abandon base; say 'commander continues to humiliate'

Ten soldiers join 18 others in mutiny over 'excessive punishments' imposed by company commander; convinced by top brigade officers to return to base a few hours later

Shaked Battalion mutiny intensifies: Two weeks after Ynet revealed that 18 soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion refused orders in protest against what they claim was humiliating treatment by the company commander, 10 additional soldiers from a different company joined the protest Wednesday night when they abandoned a base in the Jordan Valley. A senior officer said the brigade is backing the company commander.

 

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Nine of the soldiers returned to the base a few hours later following pressure from senior officers in the battalion. The soldiers, who are expected to stand trial, claim the platoon and company commanders are imposing excessive punishments on them.

 

A relative of one of the combat soldiers said, "They are training in difficult conditions at the base, where there are sanitation problems that are not being treated, and also have to deal with harsh treatment from the company commander.

 

"These are very moral fighters who have never displayed any disciplinary problems in the past. They want to give their all to the brigade and the country," he said.

 

The servicemen abandoned the base as the battalion was preparing for a major exercise, which is expected to begin in the next 24 hours.

 

A senior Givati officer said the brigade is committed to fighting "illegitimate norms," adding that the brigade's commanders treat the soldiers in the spirit of 'demand and embrace.'

 

The IDF said the commanders "acted immediately in order to return the soldiers to the base. Disciplinary measures will be taken against them."

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 04.04.13, 19:52
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