IDF general gets ‘severe reprimand’ for violating orders by hoarding equipment
Brig. Gen. Mordechai Kahane found guilty in disciplinary hearing of improperly amassing weapons; cleared of illicit dealings with contractors
Judah Ari Gross is The Times of Israel's religions and Diaspora affairs correspondent.
An IDF brigadier general received two “severe reprimands” on Monday after he was found guilty in a disciplinary hearing of hoarding large quantities of military equipment in violation of army rules, the military said.
Last month, the officer, Brig. Gen. Mordechai Kahane, the IDF’s former chief combat intelligence officer and head of the army’s Border Defense Force, was cleared of criminal charges, but appeared before the head of the IDF Ground Forces Maj. Gen. Kobi Barak for a disciplinary hearing.
Barak found him guilty both of violating army standards and of improperly taking equipment. He received official reprimands for both infractions.
Kahane, however, was cleared of the charge of conduct unbecoming an officer over allegations that he had had inappropriate dealings with civilian contractors, the army said.
In October, the military police questioned Kahane on suspicion that he had “for an extended period of time, received and possessed — improperly — military and civilian equipment,” the army said in a statement at the time.
He was suspected of amassing a vast collection of tactical equipment, including guns, weapons and scopes, as well as civilian gear. Among the weapons was an AK-47 assault rifle that, according to the Ynet news site, he had taken from a Hamas terrorist.
The illicit material was kept in a storage locker on Kahane’s base.
After his questioning, Kahane was suspended from his position and, two weeks later, asked IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot for permission to step down.
In a statement last month, Military Advocate General Brig. Gen. Sharon Afek said Kahane’s actions were considered even more problematic because of his high rank and experience.
“He is supposed to act as a personal example for fulfilling army orders meticulously,” Afek wrote.
However, Kahane’s decision to step down from his position and take “full responsibility” for his misdeeds kept him from facing harsher punishments or criminal proceedings, the army said.
