kfir brigade

An Israeli Border Police officer points his weapon at journalists and Palestinian paramedics during clashes between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters in north Ramallah, near the Beit El checkpoint, occupied West Bank, December 22, 2017. (Oren Ziv/Activestills)

The rebellion of Israel’s second army

Outgoing IDF Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi hands over to his successor a ‘policing army’ that is more autonomous, settler-led, and lethal than ever.

By Yagil Levy December 26, 2022

Israeli soldier Elor Azaria in court to hear the verdict in his manslaughter trial for shooting an unarmed Palestinian attacker in the head, Janary 4, 2017. (Miriam Alster/FLASH90)

Elor Azaria and the army of the periphery

From the army’s perspective, Azaria’s guilty verdict ostensibly answers the critique that it is unable to deal with soldier violence against Palestinians — or that it doesn’t want to. But there is one reason and one reason only that the lowly soldier was indicted to begin with. An Israeli military court handed down a guilty…

By Edo Konrad January 4, 2017

Screenshot of a video showing Israel Border Police officers shooting a 19-year-old Palestinian attacker after she is on the ground.

Cops shoot Palestinian attacker, even after she no longer poses threat

The police claim Rahik Shagiya Muhammad Yousef approached them at a checkpoint with a knife. A new video reveals that the officers fired 12 bullets, killing her when she no longer posed a threat. By John Brown* On Wednesday morning Israeli Border Police officers shot Rahik Shagiya Muhammad Yousef at a checkpoint in the northern West…

By +972 Magazine October 20, 2016

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License to Kill: Forgery, evidence tampering and two dead teens

Usaid and Muhammed Qadus are shot to death in their own village by a major in the Israeli army who claims he only fired rubber bullets. But the bullets were real, and he admitted to lying and committing forgery to cover up his crime. Instead of being charged with a crime, he is promoted. By John…

By +972 Magazine July 22, 2016

IDF soldier attacks photojournalists in Nabi Saleh, April 24, 2015. (Screenshot: Miki Kratsman/Activestills.org)

WATCH: IDF officer gets prison for throwing stones at journalists

The incident is not the first time Israeli security officials have been documented attacking journalists at West Bank protests, and in the village of Nabi Saleh. An IDF officer videotaped throwing rocks at Israeli and Palestinian photojournalists last week was sentenced to two weeks in prison. A second officer was sentenced to 30 days confinement…

By Michael Schaeffer Omer-Man April 28, 2015

Soldiers from the IDF's Egoz Reconnaissance Unit, which specializes in guerrilla warfare in southern Lebanon. (Illustrative photo: IDF Spokesperson/Flickr)

Poverty in the IDF: Thousands jailed for economically motivated desertion

On Friday, Channel 2 News aired a story of unique importance, offering a glimpse into the world of the financial difficulties faced by Israeli soldiers. A soldier from the notorious Kfir Brigade, which is often accused of brutal treatment of Palestinians, testified that 9 out of 10 soldiers need financial support, and a Knesset report…

By Haggai Matar August 18, 2013