As the radical left-wing continues efforts to portray IDF soldiers and officers as monsters, there is widespread support being heard for Lt.-Colonel Shalom Eisner, who lost his cool and struck a left-wing anarchist in his face with his M-16.

Eisner is quoted in the media telling his superiors that while he may have exaggerated, his actions were in “self defense”, explaining 200 PA (Palestinian Authority) residents were protesting and closed down the road. Eisner’s force was called in and they succeeded in getting the protestors back on their bus but additional protestors arrived on bikes, about 50 of them, and they created the confrontation. Eisner mentioned his fractured fingers and the fact that at least one protestor was carrying a pocket knife to support his self-defense statement.

Military police investigators have also learned that the border police dispatched to deal with the situation were operating after a night without sleep and their failure to control the situation led to the confrontation.

While Eisner has been suspended from his post as the deputy commander of Jordan Valley forces and has been condemned by the prime minister and president, there is growing support among reserve duty officers and soldiers as well as citizens, who are aware of the realities surrounding videos such as the one that incriminates him. Such videos are often edited to reflect a certain reality while conveniently omitting portions that shed a light of balance on the actions of those involved. In this case, Eisner had already been assaulted and injured prior to losing his cool. Two of his fingers were fractured as a result of the International Solidarity Movement activists who arrived in Israel solely for the purpose of agitating and provoking incidents such as the one recorded.

Ynet goes on to quote reserve Brigadier-General Tzvika Fogel, who commented “I don’t envy Gantz and Alon, but if I were in their place I wouldn’t deliberate too much – I would not dismiss him. Commanders are human and also make mistakes sometimes, they’re not robots. I don’t know Eisner and have never served alongside him but not every foolish little thing warrants dismissal”.

Fogel adds that unfortunately, IDF troops are placed in these situations while they are not trained as police, so it is a losing situation from the get go. The former commander of Gaza forces explains that he was taught to deal with war, not activists spitting in the faces of soldiers.

Fogel concludes “There was no use of live ammunition here and if Eisner is dismissed, this sends a message that senior officers like Eisner are criminals. Eisner knows how to lead an armored corps battalion into war and not how to disperse protests.”

Interestingly, one of those quick to condemn Eisner is Elazar Stern, retired major-general and one who wears a kippa, usually associated with the left-wing religious stream. Stern was the high-ranking officer who tried closing down the Hesder Yeshiva program, insisting the religious soldiers must be mainstreamed and not segregated in the military.

Stern explained that the actions of Eisner are unacceptable. The very same Stern used his weapon to strike Jews during the 2005 Disengagement Plan, yet at that time there were no condemnations from the president, prime minister or IDF chief of staff.

The following video shows the violence used by security forces against the unarmed citizens of Gush Katif during the 2005 expulsion. Police troops are seen using their batons indiscriminately, as well as punching and kicking unarmed non-violent civilians.

It is also being reported that Eisner is aware that any future promotions are on hold and his expected appointment as deputy commander of IDF Training Base 1, Officers’ Training Base, has been canceled. His supporters, both in and out of the military decry the fact that he has already been tried and convicted in the media.

Meanwhile, Elazar Stern released a statement to the media today, stating it would be an exaggeration of justice to throw Eisner out of the IDF. He feels that the officer’s actions were grossly inappropriate, which is why the president and prime minister were compelled to respond immediately, but he feels that he should not be ousted from the military as a result of this incident. He did add that he does feel that Eisner is no longer suited to serve as deputy commander of Training Base 1, officers’ training school, and that he is apparently not in line with the “modern battlefield, which includes tanks and cameras.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)