The Knesset will discuss sexual assault in the IDF | Israel Today

Following the publication in "Israel Today", the Subcommittee on Personnel of the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee will convene to discuss data according to which there has been an increase in the extent of sexual harassment in the IDF

• The Knesset will discuss the issue of sexual harassment in the IDF (photo has no connection to the article)

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  Tzachi Miriam

The chairwoman of the Knesset's Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee's Subcommittee, MK Orna Barbibai (Yesh Atid), asked to convene the committee to receive the IDF's response to the way it is coping with the increase in sexual harassment, as first reported in Israel Today ".

Liora Minka, chairwoman of the women's faith movement, commented on the publication of the data, saying that it is very disturbing to her - but on the other hand, they are also encouraging. "They are disturbing because the jump in sexual assault indicates a less safe and comfortable environment. "In civil society as well as in the army," she said. "We are encouraged that the data prove that the victims feel safe to complain, and understand that the 'spirit of the commander in the army' is zero tolerance for harassment and vulnerability."

Israel Today received a report from the Chief of Staff's Adviser on Gender Affairs, which shows, among other things, that the IDF recorded an abnormal increase of 24% in the number of reports of sexual assault in military circumstances and an increase in complaints to the MPC

The military estimates that the significant increase in the number of reports is a direct result of dealing with the corona virus.

IDF data show that in 2020, no less than 1,542 reports were received of incidents in military circumstances, compared with 1,239 reports in 2019. The report, signed by Chief of Staff Adviser to Brigadier General Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi, stated that "Exceptional increase in volume, since in the last decade there has been an average annual increase of 11% in the volume of reports."

It was also noted that last year there was a more than double increase, of 24%.

A similar increase was recorded only in 2018, and then it was attributed to the MeToo movement.