Right-wing journalist Yehuda Schlesinger on Thursday retracted comments he had made on a Channel 12 news broadcast justifying the suspected sodomy of a detained Palestinian terror suspect and then advocating that such acts should be standard state practice

Five Israel Defense Forces reservists are in military custody in connection with the brutal sexual abuse of a Palestinian detainee at the Sde Teiman detention facility, where many inmates are alleged to have taken part in the Hamas-led October 7 onslaught. Some on the right have decried the case as alleged persecution of IDF fighters by the justice system

Referring to the controversial case, Schlesinger said on Wednesday: “The only problem is that it is not standard state policy to abuse these detainees. Because in general, they deserve it, and this is great revenge.” He added that it might also “serve as a deterrent”

On Thursday, Schlesinger retracted his comments, telling Radio 103FM that he had received “completely justified criticism”[…]
The investigation into the suspected sexual abuse sparked protests by far-right extremists, including MKs, who broke into two military facilities last week after military police detained 10 soldiers over the incident, five of whom have since been released from custody