A female soldier assigned to the unit responsible for the Memorial Day ceremony in Mount Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem alleges she was handled most inappropriately by Shin Bet agents securing the area.

According to the report filed by Reshet Bet military correspondent Carmella Menashe, the soldier reports that she was instructed by her superiors to bring wreaths to the ceremony area, but on her way, she was stopped by Shin Bet agents, and ridiculed by their questions as well as detained. They refused to believe that she was assigned to the ceremony and was simply following orders, she explained.

She was instructed to enter a boot for a body inspection. The soldier, who is shomer shabbat, was instructed to almost completely disrobe and she was subjected to a body search. Only after this was completed was she permitted to enter the area. It is important to point out the soldier put her superiors in direct contact with the agents, officials from the Defense Ministry, and they vouched for her identity, but the agents on the scene did not accept this, compelling the body search.

In response, Shin Bet officials released a statement to the press explaining electronic surveillance equipment alerted them to a possible problem with the soldier, compelling their actions. The service apologizes for any anguish caused to the soldier but explains the agents were acting in accordance to protocol for protecting senior government officials.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)