Soldier suspected of aiding rightists released
Amihy Zoaretz who was linked to December's rightist raid on Ephraim Spatial Brigade released from custody. IDF's probe ongoing
Amihy Zoaretz, a soldier from the Paratroopers Brigade who was arrested for allegedly disclosing information to the right-wing activists who were charged with organizing December's raid on the Ephraim Spatial Brigade base in the West Bank was released from Military Police custody Thursday.
The investigation against Zoaretz is still ongoing. He maintains his innocence and is said to be uncooperative. Aharon Rosen, the paratrooper's attorney, claims that the fact that his client has been released "means he had nothing to do with this. If (the Military Police) had anything, they would have kept him in custody."
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The IDF has yet to released an official censure of Zoaretz' – and another soldier suspected in the case – conduct. In a rather soft statement, the IDF said that "when an individual case suggesting a solider may have revealed information to an unauthorized person presents itself, the relevant bodies within JAG have to consider whether a Military Police investigation is warranted."
The IDF further stressed that such incidents were not common, denouncing those trying to label it a phenomenon: "It's regrettable that a handful of soldiers who are suspected of violating military regulations and state laws are perceived as representing a widespread phenomenon."
The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit refused to release the minutes of Zoaretz' arraignment hearing.
The Zoaretz family, meanwhile, adamantly rejected the allegations: "We're proud of him for fighting for his country," his sister told Ynet. "This arrest was unwarranted as was clear from the start.
"This kind of conduct harms the military. This hurts a man who is willing to give his life for the country, who believes in the 'one for all' ideal. This is very hard for us," she said.
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