Madison-Rafah Journal

Agence France Presse, July 27, 2007

The Israeli military on Friday suspended an officer and five soldiers over the shooting of a Palestinian civilian from a taxi they commandeered during an operation in the occupied West Bank.

The incident — described by central command as "grave" — happened during an operation in Al-Dhahiriyeh south of Hebron on Thursday.

The commander of the unit stopped a Palestinian taxi, ordered out the passengers and drivers, took control of the vehicle and began to drive with his soldiers round the city, the military said.

"The force identified a suspicious Palestinian, fired towards him and identified hitting him. The force did not stop to give the man medical care but instead continued their activity without reporting the incident," it added.

Adham Nazmi al-Shalami, 18, was seriously wounded in the chest by Israeli forces while working in his father's quarry and was taken to an Israeli hospital, Palestinian medics said.

The military's initial version of events said only that a Palestinian who arrived at a checkpoint with gunshot wounds was taken to hospital.

Major General Gadi Shamni, commander of the central region that incorporates the occupied West Bank, ordered an immediate investigation by the military police and suspension of the soldiers who took part in the mission, the army said.

Copyright © 2007 Agence France Presse