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More soldiers join Givati rebellion

Seven combat soldiers in jail since Tuesday, joined by 10 more refusing to obey orders in response to 'humiliating' treatment by battalion commanders

Ten combat soldiers from the Givati Brigade's Shaked Battalion joined the mutiny on Wednesday against their commanders over what they claim is humiliating treatment by the company commander and declared they were refusing orders.

 

In response, they were tried in their unit and sentenced to various periods of military imprisonment. Some are expected to be dismissed from combat positions in the IDF.

 

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On Tuesday Ynet reported that seven Givati soldiers were sent to jail for refusing orders. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit confirmed the details and mentioned that this is a part of the "zero tolerance for seniority in the military" policy.

 

On Tuesday, the original seven soldiers notified the commander of the battalion's support company that they are refusing orders due to what they claimed was humiliating treatment and verbal abuse they endured from their commander.

 

Ynet discovered that as a result, the battalion commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Yehuda Vach, sent them to military prison. Furthermore, a decision was made in the brigade to dismantle the division in which these soldiers served.

 

The soldiers complained to the Defense Ministry's IDF Ombudsman Brigadier-General (Res.) Yitzhak Brik, who sent representatives on his behalf to their base.

 

In their complaint, the soldiers claimed that during platoon discussions the commander said "don't mess with me, I already hit a soldier…" They also claimed that "during a night of entertainment that included company songs that were acceptable till then, the company commander became irritated by the words of the song which included words against officers and started furiously and shamelessly swearing, kicking the dinner table and throwing food at soldiers…"

 

The soldiers further noted that their commander silenced one of the soldiers and in another case, a soldier suffering from a medical problem was accused of "acting and lying" by his commander. They also mentioned that the company commander was violent and called them "losers."

 

The soldiers, who returned from non-combat duty in the Gaza vicinity and who were supposed to lead the ground entrance into the Strip during Operation Pillar of Defense, claimed that they refrained from making this move during operational activity out of responsibility, adding that they are highly motivated to serve the country.

 

The IDF Spokesperson's Unit said that the future of the platoon will be decided upon based on how they function and act in the future. Some of the soldiers were already told that they will not have the right to return and serve as combat soldiers in the brigade.

 

 

 


פרסום ראשון: 03.07.13, 11:58
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