Amichai Shamba, a soldier in the 51st battalion of the Golani brigade and resident of Kochav Hashachar, is accused of participating in the mistaken attack against the Eritrean illegal immigrant at the site of the terrorist attack in the Be'er Sheva central bus station a year ago.
Eritrean migrant Heptum Zarum had the misfortune of being in the vicinity when a Bedouin terrorist opened fire on civilians in the bus station, and was shot by a security guard who thought that he was a terrorist, causing others to tackle and beat Zarum.
"If they claim that I'm a criminal, that I committed a lynching and acted against the principles and ethics of the IDF, why do they still let me serve as a combat soldier?" Shamba told friends this week. "I feel like a victim. My case screams to the heavens, much more so than Elor Azariya's."
Shamba, 20, claimed that he was shocked by the decision to indict him. "How is it possible that combat soldiers who fled the area, didn't help treat the wounded and didn't try to stop the terrorist, all get off scot free, while I'm indicted?!"
In the conversation with friends reported on by Mako, Shamba lamented: "They've sacrificed me, made me a scapegoat. The whole world is helping Azariya, and I've been thrown to the dogs. A grave injustice has been committed against me.
When asked why he thinks the indictment is a grave injustice, Shamba claimed that "the investigation was superficial. They looked at a video, and without checking out my claims in depth, just decided to file an indictment in order to quiet things down. I could also have avoided contacting the enemy and just run away like a coward, just like other combat soldiers did there."
He remarked that Elor Azariya, the soldier who shot a wounded terrorist in Hevron, enjoyed widespread public support. "Many politicians, including the Prime Minister and other Ministers openly supported him. Lots of people donated money. Web sites and journalists helped him and covered his story and his trial".
"He got relatively positive coverage. That really surprised me, because everyone treated me negatively right away. I was immediately judged and hung out to dry," he recounted.