NGO decries reassignment of whistleblower officer

An NGO condemned Sunday night the reassignment of an IDF officer who reported his superior for sexual harassment of a female subordinate, arguing that the move would dissuade soldiers from reporting any misconduct in the future.

The deputy commander of the Tzabar unit in the Givati Brigade had informed Givati Brigade commander Ofer Winter of allegations of sexual misconduct against the battalion commander, Lt. Col. Liran Hajbi.

The whistleblower officer, whose name is being kept under gag order, later turned to Sami Turgeman, the head of the southern command, after he said that Winter did not pass on the complaint — claims disputed by the Givati commander.

Shortly afterwards, the officer was reassigned by Winter to be project manager in the Infantry Corps, for reasons of “disloyalty,” according to the Haaretz daily.

On Sunday night, the Movement for Quality Government in Israel released a statement saying it had appealed to Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon and IDF Chief of Staff Benny Gantz to reverse the decision.

The major is an “outstanding officer who was dismissed simply because he dared be a whistleblower and report improper conduct in his unit,” the statement said.

“The dismissal of [the officer] is like placing a flashing stop sign in front of every soldier and officer in the future who would consider reporting improper conduct which they witnessed, since they know the report will likely cost them their position and further military advancement,” the NGO maintained.

Hajbi, who went on vacation as the investigation began, is widely expected to be removed from his position as battalion commander, according to Hebrew media reports.

Despite the accusations of covering up the affair, Winter will not be charged, and there is no evidence against him, Channel 2 reported.

Earlier Sunday, Ya’alon said the whole affair was “troubling” and vowed that the IDF would carry out a thorough investigation.

Hajbi has been the subject of an undercover Military Police investigation for a number of weeks into a complaint by a female soldier that he had sexually harassed her.

Some of the soldiers under his command have reportedly said the officer forged documents to cover up car accidents involving military vehicles as well.

Hajbi has denied the accusations vehemently, but took a leave of absence from his post when the investigation became public last week “so that the battalion won’t be affected by this,” he reportedly told his associates.

Hajbi’s attorney, IDF chief defense counsel Col. Asher Halperin, said Wednesday that Hajbi insists on his innocence and has asked for a lie-detector test and a chance to confront his accuser.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.