The Israeli newspaper Haaretz wrote on Thursday, September 29, 2022: An officer in Israel’s Public Security Service (Shin Bet), who was being interrogated on charges of “sexual assault” and had requested to examine the genitals of a Palestinian prisoner, instead of being punished, Received a promotion.
The Israeli newspaper stated that the agent known as “Yossi” occupied a top position in the office of current Shin Bet leader Ronen Barr when he was deputy director of the service.
While sources say former Shin Bet director Nadav Argaman believed Yossi should have been denied a promotion and possibly fired, it was decided not to punish Yossi’s agent after Ronen Barr became the agency’s director. . Instead, he just sent her a warning message and promoted her to a key role in the organization.
Yossi, who was the Shin Bet regional coordinator at the time, arrested the Palestinian woman in 2015.
Three years later, he was formally questioned on allegations of sexual assault. Then, in 2021, the state attorney’s office closed the case due to insufficient evidence.
According to a Haaretz investigation from 2018, other suspects in the case testified that it was the regional coordinator who ordered the search of the Palestinian woman’s genitalia, even though there was no practical need for it.
The Shin Bet concluded that there were many “material and ethical” gaps in Yossi’s handling of the case after reviewing investigative materials, the sources said.
The official assigned to the case also recommended that Argaman delay Yossi’s promotion for several years and issue a severe reprimand, a move that was expected to end Yossi’s Shin Bet career.
The disciplinary proceedings against Yossi were still ongoing when Argaman stepped down as Shin Bet manager.
After Barr took over the agency, which two sources said supported Yossi’s version of events, officials decided not to implement the former director’s recommendations against Yossi.
Several sources say that the debate between Argaman and Barr over Yossi’s ruling created a lot of tension between the two. A senior official revealed: Shin Bet once again covered up the incident.
In addition to Yossi, other high-ranking Shin Bet and Israeli army officials, including the commander of a regional brigade, were also questioned about the incident.
All involved members of the Shin Bet still retain their positions in the organization.
A Shin Bet agent was caught lying during his investigation, claiming that everyone involved was joking about the incident.
The brigade commander involved still holds a senior position in the IDF, but has been barred from promotion for his role in the incident, according to a senior legal official.
In February, the Palestinian victim filed an appeal against the decision to close the case against the six suspects, demanding that the charges be dismissed.
The appeal, filed by the non-profit organization CAT, said: “It is undeniable that the actions taken constitute elements of the crime of rape and lewdness. The evidence is there, but no one is held accountable.”
Source: Lebanon Debate
