IDF Lt.-Col. indicted for indecent acts against female soldiers

An IDF Lt.-Col. was indicted by the military prosecution for indecent acts and inappropriate behavior against four female soldiers who served under his command, the IDF Spokesperson's Unit announced on Tuesday evening.

According to the indictment, the officer committed indecent acts against two female soldiers who served under him and with two other female soldiers while acting on issues related to them.

"The IDF takes any sexual abuse seriously and works to bring every soldier involved in these crimes to justice," said the IDF Spokesperson's Unit.

Sexual misconduct is a systemic issue in the IDF

The Jerusalem Post noted in a report last year that of 1,542 complaints filed by soldiers in 2020 regarding sexual misconduct – including 26 reports of rape, 391 reports of obscene acts and 92 cases of distributing photos and videos – only 31 indictments were filed.

About 50% of the individuals accused of misconduct were conscripted soldiers, 29% were career officers and non-commissioned officers and the rest were reservists, contractors or civilian employees.

Another IDF officer charged with sexual offenses

The Post reported in July that another IDF officer, Lt.-Col. Dan Sharoni of the 6th District Driving School, who was charged with 79 counts of sexual offenses for photographing 47 female soldiers without their consent, is expected to receive a military pension and other retirement benefits in exchange for pleading guilty to the charges.

Sharoni was dismissed from the IDF in November 2021.

Anna Ahronheim and Shira Silkoff contributed to this report.