Squad commander stealing apples
IDF commander suspended after stealing fruit from Palestinians
Givati squad commander filmed stealing apples for himself and his soldiers from fruit stand belonging to Palestinian in Hebron; 'This behavior is not in line with what is expected from a soldier and commander in the IDF. The commander was suspended and will face disciplinary action,' IDF says.
An IDF squad commander was suspended after being filmed Saturday stealing from a Palestinian fruit stand in Hebron.
A force from the Givati Brigade was on operational duty in Hebron securing the Jewish settlement in the city during the "days of rage" announced after US President Donald Trump's declaration recognizing Jerusalem as Israel's capital.
The squad commander was filmed taking apples for himself and his soldiers from a stand owned by a Palestinian who left amid the violence in the city.
The IDF Spokesman's Office said this was an abnormal incident, which does not reflect on the conduct of the forces in the West Bank in general and this weekend in particular.
The squad commander takes fruit from the stand
"This behavior is not in line with what is expected from a soldier and commander in the IDF. The incident was investigated, and the commander was suspended and will face disciplinary action," the IDF said.
"The Givati Brigade's battalion has been operating in the Hebron sector for several months, and its soldiers are constantly instructed to avoid this kind of incidents, as they are prone to encounter them more than any other battalion in Judea and Samaria, due to the high level of friction with the Palestinian and the Jewish populations," the IDF added.
Troops from the same battalion were documented on Friday as well in a photo that went viral, showing some 20 soldiers surrounding a young Palestinian who took part in the violent rioting in the city. In this instance, the soldiers had the full backing of their commanding officers after having caught the main instigator and bringing him in for questioning.
