Soldier threatens to set self, commander on fire

An IDF soldier attempted to light himself and his commander on fire on his base in Tel Aviv Sunday morning.

The soldier — who, according to reports, was recently refused requests for early discharge — poured flammable fluid over himself and his commanding officer and threatened to set them both on fire. Other soldiers who saw him assault the officer grabbed him and prevented him from lighting a flame.

The soldier was taken into military police custody. An investigation into the incident has been launched.

An IDF source told Walla News that the soldier had long been suffering from personal problems that were being handled according to IDF procedures.

Last year, Israel saw a series of self-immolation attempts around the country.

The first to do so was Moshe Silman, a social activist from Haifa, who doused his body with flammable liquid and set himself on fire during a social justice rally in Tel Aviv on July 14.

Following in his footsteps were another six or seven self-immolation attempts within a week. One copycat succeeding in lighting himself on fire — wheelchair-bound IDF veteran Akiva Mafa’i. He died of his wounds in early August.

Other individuals have threatened to light themselves on fire — often going to local government insurance branches, welfare offices, and city halls to complain of undue economic hardship. Police were able to prevent many of these self-immolation attempts.