Israeli army probe highlights gross troop misconduct in Hebron

Friday August 03, 2007 12:21 by John Smith - IMEMC & agencies

An Israeli army probe has indicated a gross level of misconduct on the part of those soldiers who last week kidnapped one innocent Palestinian and shot another south of the West Bank city of Hebron.

Israeli soldiers stop a child in Hebron

One officer and five soldiers embarked on an unsanctioned ‘undercover mission’, during which they kidnapped and tied-up one Palestinian taxi-driver and opened fired on another who they claimed “looked suspicious”. The injured man was left for dead and the soldiers failed to report the brutal attack to their superiors.

The soldiers involved initially claimed that one of their company had sprained their ankle and was unable to walk, at which point the officer claimed he commandeered the vehicle of a local Palestinian taxi-driver. The soldiers went on to claim that they had tied up the driver after another Palestinian man approached the vehicle. Deciding the man was acting “suspiciously”, the soldiers opened fire, seriously wounding the man in his neck.

The probe was later to find that the soldiers involved had lied, and that none of them had sprained their ankle as stated.

Israeli army sources have indicated that harsh measures are expected against those involved, possibly including dismissal. Palestinian sources, however, have claimed that such a punishment is insufficient for what, in their opinion, amounts to attempted murder.

hebron | israeli attacks | news report