Druze Reservist Sues IDF Officer for Defamation Over Insult

A decorated Druze reservist has initiated a defamation lawsuit against a senior officer in the Israel Air Force (IAF), alleging he was publicly humiliated during a military ceremony. According to a report by N12 News, the incident occurred in May 2024 at the Tel Nof Air Force Base during a rank-awarding event.

Master Sgt. (res.) Amal Atila claims that the officer compared him to a terrorist, stating, “You look like a Nukhba terrorist,” while presenting his new rank. This comment, made in front of approximately 30 soldiers, elicited laughter from those present, leaving Atila shocked and humiliated.

“I felt the most humiliated in the world,” Atila recounted. “I lowered my head and was ashamed. At first, I thought I hadn’t heard correctly, but then I realized I had. Everyone was laughing.” Atila, who works as a security guard in Gush Etzion, expressed that the remark was particularly hurtful, given his commitment to protecting Israeli civilians. He emphasized, “Calling me a Nukhba terrorist is absurd. In my daily life, I protect this country. I love it wholeheartedly.”

The reaction from his fellow soldiers compounded Atila’s humiliation. “All the friends who were there laughed. Everyone saw it, and no one said a word to him,” he noted. “Only a small handful reached out to me privately afterward.” Atila, a recognized soldier, has received the Outstanding Soldier of the Base award twice during his service. Since the incident, he has refused to wear his new rank, stating, “It’s a really deep wound.”

Confrontation and Apology
Following the event, Atila confronted the officer regarding the comment. He was told it was “just a joke.” Atila questioned, “How would they feel if they were the only Druze in the group and were singled out like that? Would they still think it was funny?” Although the officer later offered a private apology, Atila considered it insufficient. “He should have apologized in public, just as he mocked me in public,” he said.

During the ongoing conflict, Atila served as a fuel technician, supporting IAF operations in Iran and Lebanon. He described his role as critical, stating, “We want to win the war, not lose it. I was part of the effort. I refueled during all the strikes in Iran and Lebanon.”

Through Shimon Haan Law Offices, Atila is pursuing NIS 150,000 in damages for the alleged harm to his dignity and reputation. Attorney Nimrod Haan, representing Atila, criticized the officer’s remarks as one of the most degrading comments directed at a dedicated Druze soldier. “This intolerable comparison to murderous terrorists strikes at the very heart of the partnership between the Druze community and the State of Israel,” Haan stated. “The court must send a clear and unequivocal message that such statements will not be tolerated.”

Atila expressed hope that the IDF will take the incident seriously and implement measures to prevent similar occurrences in the future.