An Israeli soldier who physically assaulted a CNN photojournalist in March has been formally reprimanded by his superiors for use of force, but no criminal charges have been filed in the case, the Israeli military announced Monday.
“The investigation revealed that during an encounter between IDF (Israel Defense Forces) soldiers and a media crew in the area, one of the soldiers used physical violence against a photographer from a media organization,” the military said in a statement to CNN.
The military police’s criminal investigation unit investigated the assault, but military prosecutors ultimately did not file criminal charges, instead moving to military disciplinary proceedings.
The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that “the soldier received a formal command order after he expressed remorse for his actions during disciplinary proceedings.” Military disciplinary actions are recorded in a soldier’s personnel file and have a negative impact on that person’s future in the Israel Defense Forces. The Israel Defense Forces declined to release the names of the reservists.
The investigation began in March when CNN photojournalist Cyril Theofilos was strangled and forced to the ground while filming in the occupied West Bank village of Tayasir. Israeli settlers had just established an illegal outpost at the site.
During the incident, Israeli soldiers also pointed rifles at the CNN crew and detained them. One of the soldiers who spoke on camera to CNN about “revenge” against Palestinians during the incident was fired from the IDF at the time.
CNN was allowed to film in the area.
In the aftermath of the incident, the IDF Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, issued a sweeping disciplinary measure, suspending all operations of the battalion, a reserve component of the ultra-Orthodox Netza Yehuda force. The IDF said the assault was a “serious ethical and professional failure.”
After undergoing educational seminars and additional training, the battalion redeployed again to the West Bank 30 days later.
