An Israeli army company commander has been relieved of his duties for involving his unit in a confrontation that resulted in serious injuries to a Palestinian child.
He is the second officer suspended this month for contravening the Israel Defense Force’s regulations governing the use of force against civilians. Neither officer has been identified.
The disciplinary action was ordered by Brig. Gen. Ya’acov Or, the West Bank military commander, against a captain who allegedly acted “contrary to standing orders.”
The incident occurred Jan. 23 in Tura el-Gharbiya village, near the West Bank town of Jenin. Troops who entered the village were stoned by local youths and opened fire, wounding a 5-year-old child in the head.
A military inquiry established that the captain entered the village without prior approval and with a force too small to discourage a confrontation. He was disciplined for creating a situation that could have been avoided.
An IDF major was relieved of his duties two weeks ago after troops under his command opened fire on youths in Jinia village, killing a 30-year-old resident of Ramallah.
Military sources said the two cases belied rumors that the IDF whitewashes breaches of discipline in the territories.
The incidents cast light on the principles that govern military conduct in dealing with the intifada.
While the IDF does not tolerate attempts to block the free flow of traffic on the main highways, its deployment in the territories is constrained.
A large, visible presence is maintained in the cities and towns. But remote villages are out of bounds, except for occasional raids on known trouble spots, which are planned to avoid unnecessary confrontations with the populace.
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