Deputy Commander of the Israeli Occupation Forces’ Jordan Valley Brigade, Shaul Eisner was dismissed from his position Wednesday after he was filmed hitting a Danish activist with his rifle in the Jordan Valley.

Deputy Commander of the Israeli Occupation Forces’ Jordan Valley Brigade, Shaul Eisner was dismissed from his position Wednesday after he was filmed hitting a Danish activist with his rifle in the Jordan Valley.

Israeli Forces Chief of Staff Benny Gantz announced the decision, considering that the attack was a “moral” as well as “a professional and command failure”.

The Israeli daily, Haaretz pointed out that “Eisner, who was due to receive the rank of colonel, will be transferred to a senior staff position and will be barred from carrying out any command position in the IDF in the next two years,” noting that “starting 2014, Einser will be able to return to a command position.”

Commenting on the attack on Tuesday, Eisner did not regret the act of beating the activist, but rather regretted “beating him in front of the cameras”.

“It could have been a professional mistake to use a weapon in front of the cameras," Israeli media quoted him as saying.

“I used a weapon… in a cold manner, as a stick. I didn't kill anyone and I did not put anyone's life in danger,” Eisner added, indicating that “thanks to his actions, protestors called off the demonstration.”

Knowing that the Israeli forces have reportedly committed outrageous war crimes, killing and committing massacres among civilians in Gaza and Lebanon, and still violate the rights and dignity of Palestinians inside the occupied territories, Gaza, and the West Bank, Israeli officials condemned this act in particular, considering that it contradicts with the principles of the “IDF”.

Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak denounced late Tuesday the Israeli soldier’s act, saying it was “not accepted by the defense minister and was never acceptable by the IDF”.

A statement issued by Barak’s office further indicated that “there is no contradiction between carrying out operations, appropriate behavior and preserving the principles and spirit of the IDF.”

For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack on the spot, claiming that “such behavior does not characterize IDF soldiers and officers and has no place in the Israel Defense Forces and in the State of Israel.”