Private ‘D’ was called to military service in the IDF eleven years ago. The years passed and she was listed as absent without official leave (AWOL) from the military, as she decided not to report, but to work to assist her family support itself. She has since married and has a child.

Military police looked for her on numerous occasions, but for one reason or another, they never caught up with ‘D’.

While the search for ‘D’ by military police has long ended, as the years passed, she became concerned regarding leaving the country, fearing she may be listed as AWOL in the computer and arrested by police at the airport.

As a result, she turned to military authorities to open her case in the hope of removing her from the IDF’s wanted list for persons who are AWOL. She assumed that being older, married and a mother would work in her favor. She turned herself in and was subsequently released, but the military prosecutor filed an indictment against her in the military court in the Kirya (Defense Ministry) in Tel Aviv.

‘D’ was charged with being AWOL for 11 years, but her defense attorney asked the court to show leniency considering today, she is older, married and the mother of a small child. The court heard the request, fining her NIS 2000 and releasing her from her military obligations.

In another case, a female soldier who was AWOL for three years was sentenced to a light fine as well, NIS 800. Private ‘C’ explained the difficult situation in her home, and that she has since married and has a child as well. The court once again understood the reality of her situation and showed leniency, not sentencing her to a jail term.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)