Sharp rise in sexual harassment complaints by female Israeli soldiers

JERUSALEM, Aug. 5 (Xinhua) -- The number of sexual harassment complaints filed by female soldiers within the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has increased by 80 percent in four years, according to a just-released report.

The data, which the army disclosed at the request of the Movement for Freedom of Information, showed a sharp spike in complaints, from 318 in 2007 to 583 in 2011, according to the Yedioth Aharonot daily newspaper.

The data showed that investigations of the complaints jumped from 94 in 2007 to 144 in 2011.

Last year, the IDF Manpower Directorate, together with Women's Affairs Advisor Brigade-General Rachel Tevet-Wiesel, instated a new support center providing assistance for soldiers who have been through sexual harassments.

The center aims to provide "support and mental assistance" to improve the treatment procedures in such events, which once were nearly "nonexistent," Tevet-Wiesel said. Enditem

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