News Article: Military Attorney’s Office Grants Early Release to Soldier Involved in Brutal Rape Case
About two weeks ago, Avitzah Schwartz received the decision from the military attorney’s office to agree to the early release of Shahar Mizrahi, a soldier who was involved in the brutal rape of Schwartz 24 years ago. Mizrahi is expected to be released within the next few days after serving 4.5 years in prison.
Schwartz expressed his disappointment and frustration with the decision, stating, “He murdered my soul, my life, and he will be released in a few days as if nothing had happened. I will continue to fight for my existence. Every day is a war of survival for me. I am very disappointed with the decision to release Shahar Mizrahi.”
Schwartz further claimed that Mizrahi’s release is particularly disheartening because it allowed two of the accused rapists to be acquitted due to Mizrahi fleeing the country and not testifying against them. “So now they come and give him a reward for what he did to me. I am very disappointed that he is being released, starting a new life. Every day that passes and I survive is a gift for me,” Schwartz added.
The news of Mizrahi’s potential early release caused Schwartz to relive the trauma, resulting in trouble sleeping at night and difficulties in functioning. Schwartz acknowledged the support he has received from his family and sheltered housing social worker, Rona Mordechai, without whom he would have been even more vulnerable.
The rape case occurred in 1999 at the Zikim base in the Negev. Schwartz, a rookie at the time, found himself at the center of a horrifying ordeal. Four soldiers accused him of informing their commander about their drug use, leading to their arrests. Shahar Mizrahi was assigned to guard the entrance to the tent while the others sought revenge on Schwartz.
During the attack, Schwartz was shot, raped, and threatened with death. He remained silent about the ordeal for a year and a half until a senior officer in the Air Force helped him file a complaint with the military police. While Schwartz confronted the soldiers during the investigation, they denied the assault. Ultimately, the military prosecutor’s office filed rape charges against them. Mizrahi fled the country, resulting in the acquittal of two of the accused due to doubt.
Four years ago, Mizrahi returned to Israel, leading to his arrest and prosecution. He was sentenced to 55 months in prison and ordered to pay compensation to Schwartz. However, Schwartz and his attorney objected to the length of Mizrahi’s sentence, arguing that his actions caused the acquittals of the other soldiers.
This week, the military parole board decided to release Mizrahi early, shortening his sentence by three months. The committee members justified their decision by stating that releasing Mizrahi after serving his full sentence would leave him without support and increase the risk of him returning to a life of crime.
Schwartz expressed his outrage toward the decision, emphasizing that the sentence Mizrahi received was already light compared to the severity of his actions. “I will live until the day I die for this rape I went through,” Schwartz asserted.
The news of Mizrahi’s imminent release has sparked a public debate about the justice system’s handling of such cases and the impact on survivors of sexual assault. The decision has drawn widespread criticism, questioning whether Mizrahi’s punishment aligns with the gravity of his crime.