After the mutiny at Sde Teiman: Tzabar Battalion soldiers head to a "processing seminar"
The commander of the 162nd Division, Brigadier General Sagiv Cohen, decided that the battalion's soldiers will speak with mental health officers about the experiences they went through during the combat period. According to warrant officers in the brigade, the soldiers are finding it difficult to accept the severe punishment imposed following the incident - and expect the senior staff to "consider it with the utmost seriousness."
The commander of the 162nd Division, Brigadier General Sagiv Cohen, decided today (Saturday) that the Tzabar Battalion will return from leave this coming Monday and head to a "processing seminar" at a hotel in Jerusalem. This follows the mutiny that took place in the Givati Brigade, during which hundreds of soldiers fled the Sde Teiman base following an argument with the senior command staff. The processing will mainly include conversations with organizational consultants and mental health officers, during which they will discuss with the soldiers the experiences they went through during the combat period. Additionally, as part of the processing day, soldiers who need specific assistance and individual treatment will be identified.
According to warrant officers in the brigade, tension still prevails between the soldiers and the command staff in the battalion and the brigade, mainly due to the severe punishment imposed following the incident, which included the decision to remove them from combat and also to revoke the combatant certificates of those dismissed, which include numerous rights that take effect after discharge. In fact, the soldiers expect the senior command to reconsider their decisions on this matter with the utmost seriousness.
As mentioned, dozens of Tzabar Battalion soldiers who took part in the mutiny left the unit's base in protest against the destruction of the company's symbols but returned to it the same day. During Saturday, they remained on the base and held conversations with their commanders. It has not yet been decided whether they will be released to their homes tomorrow for leave until Monday, when the processing workshop will be held, or if they will remain at the unit's base for further conversations aimed at "cooling the atmosphere."
As recalled, last Friday, hundreds of the brigade's soldiers fled the Sde Teiman base following an argument with the senior staff. According to warrant officers in the brigade, the staff decided to destroy and remove symbols that had been placed in the companies. Apparently, the battalion commander insisted on doing so despite the soldiers' opposition, and when they did not reach an agreement, the soldiers left the unit and fled the base.
"One of the commanders used a 5 kg hammer to destroy one of the symbols," one of the unit's servicemen told Walla.
Last night, 14 of the soldiers who led the mutiny were sentenced to 30 days in prison and dismissed from combat service. Two other soldiers, among the leaders of the event, returned to the base only at night and will be tried later. Furthermore, one soldier has not yet appeared for trial. The IDF chose a lenient punishment for 80 other soldiers who left the base and returned to it.
