IDF officers ousted, one sent to prison following 'unusual' incident

The incident took place last week during the training of Maglan recruits; a recruit was tied to a flagpole and another had tahini and water poured on him.

By ANNA AHRONHEIM
IN METULLA in 2018, IDF soldiers guard near a barrier blocking an entrance leading to the border with Lebanon. (photo credit: SETH J. FRANTZMAN)
IN METULLA in 2018, IDF soldiers guard near a barrier blocking an entrance leading to the border with Lebanon.
(photo credit: SETH J. FRANTZMAN)
Two officers in the elite Maglan commando unit were removed from their positions and one was sentenced to 28 days in prison after going against military procedures during the hazing of new recruits last week, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit announced on Thursday.
“Last week an unusual event took place during the training of Maglan unit recruits at the Paratroopers’ training school, where an officer operated in contravention to the procedures and did not follow what was expected of an IDF commander and officer,” the military said.
According to reports, the team leader tied one recruit to a flagpole and poured tahini and water on another as part of an “initiation ritual.”  The incident was stopped after other officers from the unit saw what was happening.
“Thanks to the vigilance of the commanding staff and the immediate reporting to the relevant commanders, the incident was interrupted and investigated shortly after,” the IDF said.
The officer, a team leader with the rank of 2nd lieutenant, was immediately suspended after the incident, which was then investigated in depth by the commanders of the Paratrooper’s and Commando brigades.
On Wednesday the junior officer was court-martialed before the head of the Commando Brigade and convicted of conduct unbecoming of an officer for his actions. As part of the disciplinary proceeding, he was sentenced to 28 days in prison and removed from his position. 
In addition, the platoon leader, an officer holding the rank of staff sergeant who was present at the time and failed to intervene to prevent the hazing, was also dismissed from his position.
“The IDF condemns such misconduct, works proactively to curb such behavior, and carries out in-depth investigations relating to events concerning values,” the army said in a statement.
The IDF’s Maglan unit is tasked with carrying out operations far behind enemy lines. It has been criticized for dangerous hazing practices in the past.
In May, the Military Advocate General ordered the launch of an investigation into the incident which led to a recruit sustaining a serious injury during a training exercise in August 2018. Corporal Eli Hayut was paralyzed after he jumped from a moving vehicle into a thorn bush and landed on a rock under the thorns.