Reports of negotiations for a plea deal with former Military Advocate General Maj. Gen. Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi in connection with the “Force 100" affair are sparking outrage among the unit’s soldiers. Meir Ben Shitrit, one of the force’s soldiers, says the soldiers themselves are learning about developments only through the media-and makes clear that they intend to fight any attempt, in his words, to whitewash the affair.
“None of the investigators or any official bothered to update us," Ben Shitrit said. “We only receive reports from the media. The soldiers are discussing the proper way to respond, but it is clear to us that we will not break the law. We will make our voices heard, stamp our feet, and fight, but we will remain law-abiding. The ones who broke the law are on the other side."
According to him, the most troubling aspect is that many of the soldiers involved in the affair are continuing to serve on the front lines even now.
“Most of the soldiers who were harmed by the ‘Force 100’ affair are now fighting in Lebanon and Gaza, serving the people of Israel, and while they are fighting, there are those who, from their perspective, continue to stab them in the back. Despite what was done to them, they continue to fight."
Ben Shitrit declared that, as far as he is concerned, there will be no possibility of allowing the affair to disappear from the public agenda.
“This time you will not whitewash the ‘Force 100’ affair. We will do everything the law allows us to do to expose what, in our view, they are trying to hide. There is a Pandora’s Box that will be opened, and we will expose everything that was done-from Sde Teiman and going back further."
He went on to sharply criticize the conduct of the military and legal systems.
“Lies have no legs. This is about harming institutions that were established here after 2,000 years. We will not allow the sacred institutions of the IDF, the police, and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division to be used against the soldiers."
Ben Shitrit noted that previous public struggles by the nationalist camp also ended, in his view, in disappointment, but believes that this time the struggle will be different.
“We will not sit quietly and will not allow a whitewash or cooperation with the enemy. The public will not give up on getting to the truth."
He also returned to his personal experiences during his arrest in connection with the affair.
“When I sat in the detention cell, I promised myself that whoever put me there would be held accountable. I will not give up until the truth comes to light."
At the same time, he also criticized the IDF Chief of Staff, who, according to Ben Shitrit, backed the Military Advocate General, and linked the affair to other incidents that he claims demonstrate an ongoing pattern of conduct by the system.
Alongside his call to continue the public struggle, Ben Shitrit stressed that change must also come through the ballot box.
“The most important thing is to go out and vote. In my view, the upcoming election is also an election about the judicial system. That is why we are placing our hopes in it."
Despite the intense anger, he said, the soldiers do not intend to take any illegal action.
“There were ideas about blockades and severe protest measures, but we do not want to behave like Kaplan. We are thinking carefully about every step. The goal is to make our voices heard without acting contrary to the law."