An Israeli paper aired video footage of soldiers who harassed Palestinian farmers near Hebron by dropping their pants and exposing their rear ends, in an apparent attempt to make them evacuate grazing fields.
The incident took place Jan. 11 at the Maon Farm settlement outpost near the West Bank city of Hebron, where settlers often intimidate Palestinians, requiring soldiers to intervene, rights activists told Yedioth Ahronoth.
The foreign peace activist – who gave his name as Sean – told the paper a team of volunteers was escorting Palestinians in the south Mount Hebron area to protect them from stone-throwing Jewish settlers when the soldiers arrived.
"The settlers demanded that the shepherds evacuate the area, and IDF soldiers who arrived at the scene also attempted to clear the Palestinian shepherds from their grazing fields; then, in the middle of the argument and for no apparent reason, the soldiers pulled down their pants and exposed their rear ends to us," he told the paper.
Israeli Arab Knesset member Ahmad Tibi said the incident resembled prisoner abuse at the notorious U.S.-run prison in Iraq, calling it, "Abu Ghraib prison, IDF-style," the paper reported.
"The Israeli society should be shamed by this footage, especially the families who raised such monsters," added Tibi.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said the occurrence "contradicts the spirit, values and norms the army demands of its soldiers," adding that those responsible will be held responsible.
The soldiers in question were suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation, the IDF told the paper.
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