TV host comes under fire after saying control of West Bank turns IDF troops into animals

Journalist Oshrat Kotler, a leading news anchor stirred controversy Saturday evening after saying on live air that Israel's ongoing rule over Judea and Samaria (the West Bank) was turning soldiers into "animals."

Channel 13's Oshrat Kotler made the comments at the end of a piece about the IDF soldiers suspected of badly beating two bound and blindfolded Palestinian suspects following their comrades' deaths in a shooting attack.

"We send the children to the army, to the territories, and get back animals. That is the result of the occupation," she said.

Towards the end of the program, having apparently been informed her comment had caused controversy, Kotler told viewers: "My own children and their friends are all combat soldiers... My criticism was aimed only at those soldiers who have been led to harm innocents by our control over the Palestinians."

She then said: "I would just like to add that those who truly listened to what I said at the introduction to the story, and didn't rush to slam me online, realized I was actually in favor of lenient punishment for the accused soldiers, since we are the ones sending them into this impossible reality. Are you happy now? I will continue expressing my opinion on this show. You won't be able to silence me!".

In a joint statement, parents of the accused soldiers said Kotler's comments were "unfortunate and ugly and have no place in Israeli discourse, certainly not by a news anchor who should present facts and not her warped world view."

"Kotler did not ask who these soldiers are... what terrible difficulty they've gone through, and chose to call them terrible words," they said, accusing her of "judging them without a trial."

Minister Naftali Bennett rebuked Kotler on Twitter:

"Oshrat, you're confused," he wrote. "IDF soldiers give their lives so that you can sleep soundly. Animals are those terrorists who murder children in their beds, a teen out for a walk or an entire family driving down the road. IDF soldiers are our children, our strength. Apologize."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also weighed in. "I am proud of the soldiers of the IDF and love them very much. Kotler's comments should be condemned," he said.

Former IDF chief of staff Moshe Ya'alon said: "The use of military force is a necessity that should not be condemned, in the face of the threat we face - from Iran to Judea and Samaria. All who live in this country should be thankful to the IDF and its soldiers for the sacrifice, that allows us to live."

Meanwhile, the Peace Now group backed Kotler - "It is permissible and even desirable to look into the mirror from time to time and honestly admit to the damage [caused by] the occupation. Those whose children's futures are important to them should work to end the conflict rather than maintain it, because the price is high."

Far-left Meretz party leader Tamar Zandberg spoke out against Kotler's critics, calling their attacks on her "pathetic and yet predictable...shutting your eyes [to the problem] and then assailing the messenger is not a solution."

Channel 13 news said in a statement: "Oshrat Kotler is an opinionated journalist who makes her opinions known from time to time, as do other reporters with different opinions. Oshrat was voicing her personal opinion only."

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Photos: TV host Oshrat Kotler; The IDF soldiers suspected of abusing 2 arrested Palestinians who helped the killer of their comrades