[Opinion] The main suspect in the Sde Teiman gang rape case is now a media star in Israel

Soldier Meir Ben-Shitrit has revealed himself as the main suspect in the infamous gang rape of Palestinians at the Sde Teiman detention facility. Rather than making him an outcast, his story has turned him into Israel’s latest media darling.

Three weeks ago, the Israeli right-leaning Channel 14 aired a 10-minute interview with one of the suspects in the Sde Teiman gang rape case. He was masked, in uniform, and had a gun slung across his shoulder. He received a number of standing ovations from the studio audience as he told his story of being the unfairly treated victim of the Sde Teiman affair.

Just two days later, he went public and revealed his identity in a video. The suspect, now known to be Meir Ben-Shitrit, started by taking his mask off and saying, “Shabbat shalom to all the people of Israel, this is Meir from Force 100.” He then proceeded to read the bible episode of the week, from Deuteronomy 1, 16-18

Ben-Shitrit and his companions may not win this case in the court. After all, this one case is based upon about 100 separate testimonies, as reported by Ha’aretz. But they are trying very hard to win it in the court of public opinion. And here, Channel 14, which has repeatedly aired snuff videos of the systemic torture in these camps, has been instrumental in promoting the narrative that these gang rape suspects are actually victims.