A general view of the Knesset in Jerusalem, Dec. 11, 2019. (Credit: Menahem Kahana/AFP)
An Israeli MP, Yitzhak Kroizer of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party (Jewish Power), was dismissed from his position as a reservist in the army after being photographed in a house in southern Lebanon with graffiti behind him reading ''MP Kroizer's Office,'' reports Haaretz. The army reassigned Kroizer from a combat role to a reservist unit for government officials, effectively ending his current service, according to the Israeli newspaper.
Israeli MP Yitzhak Kroizer and other Israeli soldiers in front of a house in southern Lebanon. (Credit: Haaretz daily)
The Israeli military stated that, as a general rule, members of the Knesset ''are not permitted to participate in reserve service except in exceptional cases, and Kroizer’s request to serve had been approved.'' The graffiti and the photo's dissemination were viewed by the army as ''an action that does not serve an operational need on the battlefield'' and a violation of protocol, Haaretz added. An Israeli army spokesperson said, ''The incident was reviewed, and it was decided to terminate the individual’s reserve service,'' according to the newspaper.
In a message posted on X, the Knesset member confirmed that he had been dismissed from reserve service, criticizing the “Haaretz investigation” into the reasons behind the publication of the photo.
In a televised interview on an Israeli channel, he also denied painting the graffiti himself, explaining that the photo was taken to reflect the “atmosphere” among the reservist groups.
''Shame on the command''
The photo was shared on the X network on Saturday by far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who is from the same party as the accused MP. He wrote: ''We are fortunate, in Otzma Yehudit, to have Deputy Kroizer. A fighter in the Knesset and in Lebanon. Stay safe, Yitzhak, we are waiting for you. Shame on the army command for dismissing you over this !"
A few weeks ago, Ben-Gvir had strongly criticized the Israeli army’s decision to open an investigation into the ''death'' of a prisoner captured during fighting in southern Lebanon. The prisoner was reportedly a Hezbollah fighter taken by the Israeli army in southern Lebanon and allegedly executed during his interrogation by a reservist soldier, according to Israeli media, including Israel Hayom and Channel 14.
Ben-Gvir called the very idea of investigating the death of a Hezbollah fighter ''shameful.'' The investigation revealed that the prisoner was killed by a member of Unit 504, the Israeli intelligence unit responsible for interrogations.
This article was originally published in French in L'Orient-Le Jour.
