Soldier claims abuse because of sexual orientation

By JPOST.COM STAFF
IDF military police were investigating allegations of discrimination and verbal abuse of a soldier in the Karakal Battalion because of her sexual orientation. According to reports that were first published in Yedioth Aharonot, the soldier issued a complaint to the IDF ombudsman, in which she said that after she disclosed that she was a lesbian, her commanders canceled her participation in squad commanders' course. Additionally, she claimed, unit members wrote graffiti on the guardpost that read "You don't understand how much happiness you will bring to the company when you commit suicide." Later, she claimed, someone added: "your parents are also embarrassed by you. We're all waiting for your death." On cans of insect repellant, soldiers allegedly wrote "exterminates bugs, insects and lesbians."