The Internet has been abuzz over the past 24 hours, following a video showing an IDF soldier pointing his weapon at an Arab teenager.
The video, which quickly reached the media, was presented as an 'attempted murder' of the Arab boy, but even before it gained momentum, netizens were quick to attack the publication for its one-sidedness, as in the video it was possible to see that the soldier pointed his weapon at a boy with his fist, after he tried to attack him.
The video and story were published by a news page on Facebook, along with two photos in which soldiers cover their faces with signs that read: "I am also with David Hanahlawi" (a nickname for a fighter in the Nahal Brigade).
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Within a few hours, the phenomenon became hysterical. Thousands of soldiers of various ranks, including commanders and officers, and even a battalion commander, uploaded photos of themselves with the signs to the Internet.
A Facebook page with this name was opened, and as of the time of writing, it has nearly 80,000 followers. Thousands of soldiers have flooded the network with descriptions of the humiliations and affronts they experience every day at the hands of Arabs who enjoy complete freedom to throw stones, without being able to respond. The soldiers accuse the commander-in-chief, the Chief of Staff, and the government of helplessness and of neglecting the lives of soldiers in exchange for imaginary silence.
Even the later announcement - confirmed by David Hanakhlawi (Adamov) - that the soldier was not dismissed over the incident, and that the incident had not even been investigated, did not quiet the flames.
The protest page, under the title "Putting an end to the abandonment of IDF soldiers," continues to bring hundreds of stories and opinions, from soldiers and mothers, officers and Border Police officers, explaining that David is "a status symbol. He is simply the straw that broke the camel's back.".
The media fire was ignited by a news page called 0404 - one of the most powerful news pages on the Internet. According to its publications, there are about ten thousand photos from all army units, and thousands more messages that have not yet been processed. According to estimates, about half of the IDF's regular combat force is participating in the protest, and according to Google's popularity index, David Hanahlawi was the most searched for in Israel last night.
Jewish Home Chairman Naftali Bennett also joined in supporting the soldier, writing on his Facebook page that he "was an activist like David Loham of Nahal.".
Bennett added that what is seen in the video is "very simple: violence was used against him. He was alone, surrounded by a number of violent and provocateur Arabs. He did not shoot, he took reasonable measures to protect himself and those around him and brought the incident to an end.".
According to him, there were two photographers there, and it was no coincidence. The extreme left lives off slandering IDF fighters.
MK Moshe Feiglin also joined the protest and even took a picture with the sign "I'm with David Hanahlawi too" - and this time with his face visible.
IDF Spokesperson: There is no such thing as a protest on Facebook
The IDF spokesman was asked about the issue, but his response only increased the frustration.
The spokesman, Brigadier General Moti Almuz, said: "The IDF commands its soldiers through its commanders. There is no such thing as a protest on Facebook, and protest is not a military concept. The IDF commands its soldiers through direct contact, in a conversation between a commander and subordinate. It is not right to engage in these issues on the Internet through a protest on Facebook, even if it sweeps a lot of people.".
Elmuz also said that the commander of the Judea and Samaria Division and the Nahal Brigade ordered the unit commanders to explain the events and conclusions to the soldiers. According to him, he does not know of any soldiers who feel that they are being abandoned in the field. "The commanders are with their soldiers in operational activities and are familiar with the operational problems in these contexts. These issues are only handled at the command level.".
