A former Israeli soldier who posted images of herself and blindfolded Palestinian prisoners on Facebook has said she did nothing wrong.
Eden Aberjil, 26, said she was surprised at the backlash and had received death threats after her pictures were made public.
She said the pictures were taken to remember the experience in the army.
The pictures were not intended to be a political statement and the prisoners were well treated, she told Army Radio.
During the interview Ms Aberjil said it had never occurred to her that there might be a problem with the pictures, and that she had been a model soldier.
Pictures removedTheres no violence or intention to humiliate anyone in the pictures, she said.
I just had my picture taken with them in the background. I did it out of excitement, to remember the experience.
Analysis
<-- pullout-items--> <-- pullout-body-->A great many young Israeli soldiers have photograph albums quite similar to Eden Aberjils The army: the best days of my life.
The only difference is that they do not post them on Facebook.
That explains her remark that she still did not understand what was wrong and the comment of Dr Ishai Menuchin of the Committee Against Torture in Israel that she is a bad apple, but all the box are bad apples.
The IDF likes to think of itself as the most ethical army in the world and so condemned the photographs in strident terms. They are also no fools when it comes to public relations.
For most young conscripts, and young Israelis who have completed their military service, I suspect the reaction will not be outrage but a simple shrug of the shoulders.
<-- pullout-links-->Ms Aberjil had put the images in an album on the site entitled The army: the best days of my life several weeks ago and were reported by the media on Monday.
They have now been taken down or removed from public view.
I find it astounding that there are so many people who want peace and Im the one ruining it for them. I got loads of death threats, but Im not scared, I know I didnt do anything wrong, she said.
She said she had been told that she was disappointed by the response from the Israel Defence Forces IDF.
Army officials said the pictures were shameful and would be investigated.
Palestinian groups said the images were humiliating and revealed the mentality of the occupier.
The pictures show the former reserve soldier smiling next to three bound and blindfolded prisoners. In one, she is sitting with her face turned towards a prisoner.
Ms Aberjil has already been discharged from the army having completed her mandatory military service, and it is unclear whether she could face disciplinary action.
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment