Another case of abuse within the Israel Defense Forces has been exposed: A video taken by soldiers in the Givati Brigade depicts a brutal incident in which troops defecate on a fellow soldier. The soldier is seen in the video crouched down with his eyes covered, wearing a Golani T-shirt, while yells of encouragement are heard in the background. The video was discovered by Haaretz newspaper, which handed it over to IDF authorities. The IDF has launched an investigation into the incident. According to IDF sources, the initial investigation suggested that the incident was not a hazing ritual, to which new soldiers are subjected by the more veteran fighters, but the result of a wager between two soldiers. But it is not clear from the video how willingly the victim submitted to the abuse. The IDF Spokesperson's Unit issued a statement saying, "This is a very serious incident, which constitutes a stark violation of the IDF code of conduct. Therefore, GOC Northern Command Maj. Gen. Yair Golan has ordered an immediate and thorough investigation, and the use of harsh measures against the perpetrators. The IDF condemns this unacceptable behavior, and the issue will be dealt with severely." In recent years, the incidence of abuse within the military has subsided somewhat, though occasionally reports of serious abuse still surface, mainly as part of hazing rituals. Israel Radio recently reported that a commander in the armored corps forced his cadets to crawl through their own excrement and sleep in their soiled clothes inside their sleeping bags as part of their training regimen. In that incident, the IDF declared that the practice was unacceptable and was "a serious violation that does not correspond with the IDF's values."
