IDF officer convicted of raping Palestinian woman, bribery, fraud

The officer was sentenced to 11 years in prison with time served, plus probation, and he was kicked out of the IDF, though he was later readmitted and demoted to the rank of private.

A gavel in a court of law (photo credit: REUTERS)
A gavel in a court of law
(photo credit: REUTERS)

An IDF officer from the Civil Administration was convicted of multiple sexual offenses, including raping a Palestinian woman.

The conviction took place in 2017, but some of the details surrounding the case were finally made available by the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit for publication.

The officer, whose identity is barred from publication, was convicted of crimes committed from 2013 to 2014, including but not limited to: raping a Palestinian woman, sexual harassment, taking sexual bribes, fraud, breach of trust and abusing authority to the point of endangering national security.

Several instances detailed how the officer raped women in relation to issues surrounding permits. In addition, he also disclosed classified information to unauthorized individuals.

Overall, the officer was sentenced to 11 years in prison with time served, plus probation, and he was kicked out of the IDF.

Prison cell block (credit: Wikimedia Commons)
Prison cell block (credit: Wikimedia Commons)

However, in 2020, he appealed his sentence.

While the Military Court of Appeals rejected his attempt at appealing his prison sentence, his removal from the IDF was overturned, and he was readmitted into the army, though was demoted to the rank of private.

Other details surrounding the case remain confidential, due to the involvement of classified information.

This is believed to be one of the most severe punishments ever given to an IDF officer, but court ruled that the sentence was deserved.