JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli soldier was sentenced to prison for posing for a photo showing him pointing a loaded weapon at a blindfolded and handcuffed Palestinian prisoner.
An Israeli military court on Sunday handed down a five-month sentence; prosecutors had asked for six months.
The soldier’s cell phone also contained photos of two friends in similar poses. Legal proceedings against the other two soldiers reportedly are going forward.
The three soldiers were indicted for abuse, illegal use of weapons and improper behavior.
The photos were taken in January in Jenin. They were not distributed on any social networks.
In recent months, other soldiers have posted photos on Facebook and videos on YouTube that have damaged the image of Israel’s military, including line dancing while on patrol in Hebron and belly dancing around a blindfolded Palestinian woman.
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