"Initiation ceremony" that turned into abuse: Border Police commander beat a policewoman and committed an indecent act against her

An evening that began after a joint shift at a Border Police base in Judea and Samaria ended, according to the indictment, in a violent and humiliating incident. The Department of Internal Police Investigations (DIPI) filed an indictment today (Wednesday) at the Petah Tikva Magistrate's Court against Itamar Karko, a Border Police officer who served as a squad commander, charging him with assaulting a Border Police officer and committing an indecent act against her.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred on February 19, 2025, at night, after the defendant and the policewoman, who had enlisted in the Border Police a few months after him, finished a joint shift at the Abu Dis base. The two entered a building used as a club, where, according to the charge, a "zubur game" was taking place — a humiliating and violent initiation ceremony that veteran officers are accustomed to conducting for younger officers.

However, according to DIPI, what was presented as an "initiation ceremony" quickly turned into a series of violent acts. Upon entering the club, it is alleged, Karko locked the door and blocked the door handle with a broomstick. He then ordered the policewoman to turn her back to him and place her hands on one of the refrigerators in the room.

Karko began asking her questions, and according to the indictment, every time she gave a wrong answer, he struck her hard in the ribs with his fists. This occurred, according to the charge, on 15 different occasions.

Subsequently, it is alleged, the officer ordered her to turn around and take off her jacket. Even then, the questions — and the violence — continued. Each time, according to DIPI, she gave a wrong answer, he punched her in the stomach on five different occasions.

Then, according to the indictment, the violence escalated. The defendant began pulling the policewoman's hair every time she gave a wrong answer. At one point, it is alleged, he even asked her: "Does this feel good?" After she replied in the negative, he continued to pull her hair.

Further, the indictment describes an incident of a sexual nature. It is alleged that Karko grabbed the policewoman's face with both hands and sat on a chair with his knees spread. He ordered her to approach him, and then pulled her hair hard until she knelt between his legs.

According to the charge, while holding her face, he pulled her toward him and brought her face close to his genitals, without her consent. The policewoman, it is alleged, managed to break free from his grip in a panic and stood up. Shortly thereafter, the two left the club.

DIPI charges Karko with the offense of simple assault under Section 379 of the Penal Code, as well as the offense of an indecent act under Section 348(c) of the law. The investigation was conducted by the Jerusalem team of the Department of Internal Police Investigations.

It is important to emphasize that this is an indictment and allegations attributed to the defendant, and the legal proceedings in his case have not yet concluded.