Fewer officers to be armed as suicide becomes IDF's top killer

[Violet_Crumble]

Thirty-three Israel Defense Force soldiers committed suicide since the beginning of 2005, the chief of the IDF
manpower headquarters, Brigadier-General Avi Zimer, told the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Wednesday.

The head of the IDF's manpower division, General Eliezar Stern, said during the meeting that to combat this wave of suicides, it was recently decided that officers and non-commissioned officers in rear units will be armed. Additionally, soldiers in rear units will be prohibited to carry weapons while on leave.

These steps join other measures taken by the IDF on the matter, including reducing the number of weapons in soldiers' hands when there is a fear the guns will be used to end their own lives. The IDF has also worked to increase commanders' awareness of the necessity of caring for soldiers' mental distress.

The number of suicide deaths accounts for half the total of 66 soldiers who died during their army service in 2005. Sixteen soldiers were killed in traffic accidents while they were on leave, nine died of illness, six died during operations and two died under what were identified as other circumstances.

Stern said the IDF is fighting a serious battle against suicide, and that the army approaches the subject in the most serious manner possible. The IDF doesn't make any distinction between a soldier who dies during an operation and a soldier who commits suicide, Stern said, and both are buried in the same section of the military cemetery.

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/657996.html

[Coastie for Truth]

1. A (Retired) Social Work Prof at Hebrew University

has worked in and published in this area (post traumatic stress syndrome among reservists assigned to "occupation" duties).

A definite "leftie" and "peacenik" - he is now working on "reconciliation" of teenagers in joint Israeli-Palestinian youth activities.

[pelsar]

2. my impression...

i always thought it was the younger kids, non combat, that were committing sucide.....where the armies pressures and culture were simply too much for them, and having access to a weapon simply made it all easier.

[Englander]

3. What's his name? I'd like to see his published work. n/t