Israel Matzav

IDF apologizes for death of Rabbi Dan Mertzbach

IDF representatives presented the incident's investigation findings to the family, including his widow and five children. According to those present at the meeting, the IDF explained that in the days that preceded the incident there was a terror alert focused on a suspicious vehicle moving along Route 60 near Beit Hagai.

On Friday morning a suspicious car was identified on the route, with soldiers fearing the car was being driven by terrorists en route to an attack.

The report was received by the three soldiers at the nearby checkpoint: A commander, a soldier and a medic. The force did not have enough time to erect a roadblock so the commander stood in the middle of the road and signaled the driver to stop using the flashlight on his personal weapon.

Later, the soldier fired at the car in which the rabbi and two other women were travelling in. The women were injured in the incident

The family was told that on Saturday the IDF had held a reenactment of the incident with a car that was driving at the same speed. According to sources present at the meeting, the reenactment made it clear that the driver had no way of recognizing the soldier.

The soldier who felt his life was in danger fired eight bullets. One hit the front of the car, one hit the radiator and the others hit the back of the car and passengers.

At the meeting the IDF officers made it clear that they considered the incident as a major failure in which the soldiers acted contrary to procedure.

The rabbi's daughter told the IDF representatives that she believed the incident occurred because the soldiers were very tense, and that the IDF needed to calm them down. His widow said that she understood that the soldier made a terrible mistake.

At the meeting, Colonel Hazut admitted that he was deeply ashamed over the fact that the incident occurred in his sector and expressed his deep sorrow over the affair.

Labels: Hebron, IDF, Machpeila cave, open fire rules

posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 11:23 PM