Undercutting the IDF's image

The chaotic security reality across Judea and Samaria is one controlled by endless shades of gray. Few are the incidents that can be viewed in black and white, but Thursday's incident in Hebron, in which an Israeli soldier was filmed shooting a subdued terrorist, is one of them. This event is clear-cut, and it raises no doubts or questions.

The first part of the incident is known: Two terrorists stabbed an IDF soldier on patrol on a Hebron street near the Jewish Tel Rumeida neighborhood. The other soldiers on patrol reacted swiftly and efficiently, shooting at the assailants and neutralizing them. Up to that point the troops did exactly as expected of them.

The second part of the incident is familiar and the video, shot by a B'Tselem activist, shows the terrorists lying on the ground, subdued.

It is the third part of the incident that is shocking, as the video shows that one of the soldiers suddenly cocked his weapon and shot one of the terrorists in the head. The video leaves no room for doubt or interpretation: The terrorist was not a threat and there was no operational justification to open fire.

Given the immediate firestorm on social media, it seems the obvious must be reiterated: Shooting a helpless individual is illegal and immoral. Yes, soldiers are expected to spare no effort to neutralize a terrorist, but once he is subdued he must not be harmed. The opinion of a rabbi or an MK on the matter is irrelevant. The IDF follows one Code of Ethics and one chain of command, and the Hebron incident goes against both.

The soldier who pulled the trigger was arrested by military police, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Moshe Ya'alon and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot issued strongly worded condemnations for his actions, each stressing this is not Israel or the IDF's way.

We cannot go on every international stage and state that the IDF is the most ethical military in the world and then look the other way when something like this happens. Even before the blow dealt to Israel and the IDF's international image is considered, the military has to stand behind its own principles and remember that even when fighting the worst enemy, soldiers must maintain their humanity.

It is sad to see how the headlines produced by this incident are giving the headlines on the Brussels bombings a run for their money. It is sad to see how some in the world juxtapose Thursday's incident with a series of embarrassing statements by ministers and MKs, who are only too happy to voice their opinions on attacks overseas but, fearing social media thuggery, keep mum on the issue when it hits closer to home. But mostly, it is sad to see how IDF soldiers are being portrayed as murderers, and how this incident plays into the hand of those responsible for the surge in violence.

And as if that was not enough, this incident lends organizations like B'Tselem and Breaking the Silence legitimacy. The company commander and other soldiers on patrol failed to react to their comrade's actions, and if not for the video, we may never have learned of what happened.

Those decrying the video's release as "betrayal" or "treason" would be wise to remember it is not the video's publication that is at fault -- it is the nature of the act caught on tape.

We have to assume that the soldier in question is innocent until proven guilty. The IDF and the state must make it clear that this is not our way, not only to stop a potential wave of retaliation attacks, but mostly to remain on the sane, winning side.

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