The Israel Defense Force general in command of the West Bank has asked to be relieved of his post, effective this summer.
Maj. Gen. Amram Mitzna, commander of the central sector, made the request to Defense Minister Yitzhak Rabin. Rabin has not yet responded, but is expected to accede to the request.
Mitzna has been responsible for dealing with the Palestinian uprising in the West Bank since it began nearly 18 months ago.
Lately he has been confronted by the anti-Arab vigilante tactics of militant Jewish settlers in the territory, who have harassed and abused IDF personnel trying to restrain them.
The general told Rabin and IDF Chief of Staff Dan Shomron that he would like to take off a year for study and travel abroad.
Mitzna, a soft-spoken man who is widely respected, reportedly turned down an offer of a senior post on the IDF general staff.
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