Last week, the military police opened an investigation against Maj. (res.) Dovi Yudkin, brother of the Hero of Israel, Captain Yisrael Yudkin, who fell in April in the Gaza Strip, on suspicion that during operational activity, his fighters threw a stun grenade at an Arab rioter who spat at them and cursed them.
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Otzma Yehudit Chairman, MK Itamar Ben-Gvir, contacted Defense Minister Yisrael Katz, asking him to instruct the IDF to act in accordance with the policy of the political echelon.
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At the beginning of the letter, MK Ben Gvir described the case, as published in the media: "Last Thursday it was announced that the military police had opened an investigation against Maj. (res.) Dovi Yudkin, brother of the Hero of Israel, Capt. Yisrael Yudkin, who fell in Gaza. The description of the case indicates that last August, after a murderous attack in which Gideon Perry was murdered in Samaria, an order was given to close all stores in the sector, including the stores in the city of Ariel.".
MK Ben Gvir added: "The fighters carried out the instructions, when in one of the stores they encountered a salesman who was standing at the entrance and began cursing, insulting and humiliating the fighters. At that moment, one of the fighters threw a stun grenade into the store, which caused the salesman to go inside and lock himself in. After the incident, the MPC is making a claim against the hero Yudkin. This is a sensitive and explosive period in which our heroic soldiers are required to stand bravely against the enemy that is emerging from all sides. Any display of hatred and insults against our soldiers clearly increases the danger to their lives.".
He said, "It is important to note that opening an investigation against those fighters sets a dangerous precedent - in which soldiers and commanders are forced to fear the legal consequences more than the enemy itself. I expect the IDF to provide full support to the fighters, especially in cases such as these, and even more so when it comes to the brother of an Israeli hero who fell in IDF action. Extreme sensitivity on the part of the MPI would be expected.".
"In light of this," wrote the chairman of Otzma Yehudit, "I would ask that the political echelon clarify its policy to the military echelon and emphasize to the Chief of Staff that a fighter who acts in self-defense should not be invited for questioning but rather receive a severance pay.".
In a letter addressed on Thursday to military officials and the people of Israel, Yudkin wrote: "I have been in the reserves for over 450 days, leading fighters in battle, leaving behind family, friends, an entire life, and all for the State of Israel. My brother, Israel Yudkin, died bravely in the battles in Gaza, and I continue to fight for him as well.".
""One moment I'm commanding fighters, and the next I become a suspect," the commander said - and asked: "Is this the price paid by those who dedicate their lives to Israel's security? Is this the message that the State of Israel is conveying to its fighters?".
He added: "If the people of Israel do not stand behind us now, who will fight when the next war comes? We will not agree to be scapegoats for a system that, due to bureaucracy and extraneous considerations, has forgotten who is truly protecting it.".
He stated: "I will not appear for questioning. I told the investigators that. There are much more serious things to investigate in the Israel Defense Forces. Let them postpone the investigation until after the reserves or after the war. I buried friends in this war. I buried a brother. It feels like betrayal.".
