Israeli historian accused of misusing soldiers

The former head of the Israel Defense Forces' department of history, Dr. Shaul Shai, was accused of fraud and breach of trust in the Jaffa military court last week. Shai is accused of employing soldiers and officers working under him to do personal work for him from 2003 to 2007, when he served as the head of the history department of the IDF's Torah and Training Division. The jobs included typing and editing, graphic arts jobs, research, photocopying and other office errands for his personal advantage.

The indictment noted that Shai, as a civilian employee of the IDF, had permission to conduct other work, including academic work, in addition to the job he held in the army, under the condition that no IDF resources were used.