JERUSALEM (JTA) — An Israeli general was indicted in the rape and sexual assault of two female subordinates four months after his promotion to a prominent post was canceled over the accusations.
Brig.-Gen. Ofek Buchris, 47, was indicted Thursday by the Military Advocate General for the sexual offenses allegedly committed between 2010 and 2012. In March, not only was his promotion to head the Operations Division nixed when the allegations came to light, he also was suspended from his temporary post with the army’s Command and Staff College.
He has denied the allegations and reportedly passed two privately funded polygraph tests.
As commander of the Golani Brigade from 2010 to 2012, Buchris is suspected of having raped and sexually abused one of the soldiers; a second soldier came forward several days after the first accusations were made.
As a battalion commander, Buchris was critically injured during Operation Defensive Shield in 2002 and was awarded a citation for his bravery.
Buchris reportedly was on a shortlist of potential candidates for IDF chief of staff down the line.
