Professor Benjamin Porat has written this disturbing op-ed for the Jerusalem Post about the ramifications of what is now becoming known as The MAG Affair. Excerpt:
Alongside the firm condemnation of the actions of the military advocate-general and her associates, it is also necessary to warn against those seeking to take advantage of this affair for improper purposes. For example, some are now pushing forcefully for the military advocate-general’s alleged misconduct to lead to the acquittal of suspects accused of abuse at the Sde Teiman detention facility.
To them, it must be said plainly: the rot revealed in the military advocate-general’s office does not automatically clear the suspects of abuse, nor does it justify the grave act committed by those who crossed the red line by storming an IDF base in protest of the arrests.
Guilt in this case is not a zero-sum game: the potential guilt of the military advocate-general does not equate to the innocence of the suspects in the abuse case. Both matters must be thoroughly investigated, and all those found guilty must be held fully accountable.
Equally troubling are the supporters of the judicial overhaul, who make no secret of their intent to exploit the military advocate-general affair to advance their attempted overhaul against the judiciary. [Yifat] Tomer-Yerushalmi has done a valuable service for Justice Minister Yariv Levin; and Simcha Rothman, chairman of the Knesset Constitution, Law, and Justice Committee, in their efforts to weaken and take control of the judiciary.
It will be a while before this explosive situation resolves itself. The consequences for several of Israel's politics, defense establishment, judiciary, and other institutions of government could be grave.
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