IDF Officer Details Sexual Harassment by Battalion Commander
A female operations officer in the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Neta Zilberstein, has come forward with allegations of sexual harassment by her battalion commander, a lieutenant colonel, during the recent war. Zilberstein recounted receiving obsessive personal messages from the commander for approximately three months, during which he commented on her weight and body, attempted to hug her, and invited her to a private getaway, confessing romantic interest beyond their professional roles. She stated that he would summon her for private meetings when she distanced herself or did not respond to his messages, and that he exploited the difficult wartime conditions, including lack of food, water, and protective gear, to draw closer to her. He allegedly offered her food and a place to sleep, excluding other soldiers to be alone with her.
Zilberstein described specific incidents, including the commander allegedly touching her knees and attempting to move his hands up her legs during a tactical meeting, and ordering all other soldiers out of a tank to be alone with her, where he allegedly blocked her exit, grabbed her thighs, and expressed romantic feelings. She reported that he sometimes deleted messages, but she managed to save some, including one where he allegedly warned her to be careful about what she said. She confronted him, stating he should protect her as she is a young woman in a male-dominated unit and questioning if he would educate his daughter similarly.
The ordeal took a severe toll on Zilberstein's health, leading to difficulty functioning, fainting spells, dizziness, anemia, a psoriasis outbreak, and paralysis. She initially approached the IDF's advisor on women's affairs but felt insufficient action was taken. She delayed filing a military police complaint until she transferred to a different unit, fearing she would be forced to leave her post. After transferring, she filed a formal complaint, and the commander was eventually dismissed from the IDF and reprimanded as part of a plea deal, which Zilberstein agreed to on the condition he would not remain in service. She stated he refused a confrontation and a polygraph test.
Adding to the distress, the commander who replaced the first alleged harasser is now himself under investigation by military police for allegedly sexually harassing the unit's education officer. Zilberstein expressed her dismay, stating, "When I heard that the commander who replaced the one who harassed me is suspected of harassing the education officer, I understood there was no one to rely on." She questioned the readiness of the military with such commanders and the need to worry about unwanted advances during combat. She has appealed to the IDF Chief of Staff for clear boundaries regarding the treatment of women in battalions and assurance that female soldiers will be protected, even from their own commanders.
The IDF stated that an investigation was opened and findings will be transferred to the military prosecution, emphasizing that the army views sexual harassment very seriously and offers support services. The lawyer for the second commander stated his client provided a full account and is cooperating, while the lawyer for the education officer criticized the system where complainants may be disadvantaged compared to the accused.
