Turn in Investigation of Saturday Night Incident: Soldier Whose Weapon Was Stolen Questioned Under Caution
The soldier whose weapon was stolen during a confrontation with Palestinians in Susya came to give testimony as a victim, but was questioned under caution on suspicion of assault. Attorney Nati Rom argues that this is a harmful practice that damages state security.
A turn in the investigation of the security incident on Saturday night in the southern Hebron Hills: the soldier whose weapon was stolen during a confrontation with Palestinians arrived yesterday (Wednesday) at the police station to give testimony, but was questioned under caution on suspicion of assault. During last Saturday, the soldier, who was on leave, was attacked while hiking in the area. According to initial reports, several Palestinians ran toward him, beat him, and stole his personal weapon. During IDF searches, the soldier's weapon was found and four Palestinians involved in the incident were arrested. One of them surrendered to Civil Administration forces on Monday. Attorney Nati Rom from the Honenu organization, representing the soldier, said: "Last Saturday, an IDF soldier was brutally attacked. He fought like a lion, was wounded, hospitalized, and released. He came to the police station to give testimony as a crime victim, and suddenly in the middle of the testimony they stopped it and began questioning him under caution." According to Rom, the police opened a criminal case against the soldier and accused him of "assaulting terrorists," despite visual documentation of the incident. "The practice of Israeli police almost automatically questioning under caution people who defended their lives is harmful," Rom added. "It is a deterrent factor that causes us losses, damages state security, and must be stopped."