Israels top military lawyer arrested after she admitted leaking video of abuse
Free criticism and changing norms
- Several comments praise societies where media can expose military or political misconduct even if it “makes the nation look bad” abroad, calling this a core pillar of a free society.
- Others argue that in Israel this norm is eroding, with growing public hostility toward investigators, prosecutors, and whistleblowers.
- Some counter that this isn’t a new change but a continuation of long‑standing attitudes.
Abuse, investigation, and “PR damage”
- Commenters highlight the severity of the alleged assault (including anal rape and serious physical injuries) and contrast it with leaders framing the incident as primarily a “public relations attack” on Israel and the IDF.
- The leaker’s rationale is seen as trying to protect investigators and prosecutors under attack, not to attack Israel itself.
Accountability vs. presumption of innocence
- One side stresses “innocent until proven guilty” and notes the footage is said to be doctored and not fully conclusive.
- Others respond by listing broader patterns of alleged violations and argue that “just allegations” is used to dismiss systemic abuse.
- Some say Israel has “little or no accountability” now; others claim there was never real accountability, it’s just more visible due to social media.
Public support, protests, and societal values
- The existence of protests in defense of the accused soldiers, including participation by lawmakers, is seen as particularly disturbing.
- There is debate over whether these protesters represent a fringe or the “average” Israeli, with references to polling (details not given) suggesting high support for current military actions.
- A few comments generalize to global trends of celebrating cruelty and pessimism in modern democracies.
US parallels and leverage
- Some compare Israel’s handling of legal officers to US purges or sidelining of military lawyers and intelligence counsels.
- Others argue the US could heavily constrain Israeli behavior through sanctions or aid cuts; this is contested by those emphasizing Israel’s domestic arms industry and desire to reduce reliance on US aid.
Language, framing, and media bias
- The term “blood libel” is criticized as a disingenuous way to describe the leak, with explanations of its specific historical meaning and why it doesn’t apply to exposing documented abuse.
- Media choices—gendered pronouns for anonymous sources, the word “abandoned” for a car at a beach—are scrutinized as potentially identifying or misleading.
- Some see asymmetric treatment of Israel (“scandal” vs. “exposure”) compared to other countries.
Tech, politics, and HN
- A minority calls for excluding political news from the forum.
- Others argue this is impossible when tech companies are deeply entangled with state power, surveillance, warfare, and human‑rights issues.