The IDF has concluded its investigations into two grave recent incidents in each of which three soldiers were killed by Arab gunmen. The first case was the fatal infiltration into the Netzarim army base three weeks ago. Very early Friday morning, Oct. 24, under the cover of heavy fog, Palestinian terrorists entered the base, made their way to the soldiers' sleeping quarters, and killed two women in their beds and a third soldier outside who was awakened by the shots.
The findings, presented to the IDF Chief of Staff yesterday afternoon, conclude that the incident was a "failure of the IDF's defense plan, stemming from objective conditions such as the fog for which the defense-response was not sufficient, as well as the insufficient amount of forces and the lack of care in properly fulfilling the operational guidelines." The Deputy Commander of the Shimshon unit based in Netzarim will be relieved of his command.
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, upon receiving the report, said that all soldiers serving in Netzarim, even those in administrative positions, must undergo arms training and must bear arms.
The other incident, on October 19, was an ambush attack on four soldiers on a foot patrol in the village of Ein Yabrud, opposite Ofrah. Three soldiers were killed, and a fourth fell wounded behind a bush and thus escaped death. The investigative report places responsibility on the shoulders of several "Duchifat" unit commanders for inefficiently preparing and planning the patrol. The report concludes that there was a series of tactical and logistical errors, including the fact that the soldiers walked the same path daily, during the same hours, permitting terrorists to study their habits.
In a related item, it has been decided that five officers will be tried for their role in the dehydration death of a soldier over a year ago. The soldier had been ordered, during a training session in the heat of the day, to climb a steep hill while carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment, after three days of training and lack of sleep.
The findings, presented to the IDF Chief of Staff yesterday afternoon, conclude that the incident was a "failure of the IDF's defense plan, stemming from objective conditions such as the fog for which the defense-response was not sufficient, as well as the insufficient amount of forces and the lack of care in properly fulfilling the operational guidelines." The Deputy Commander of the Shimshon unit based in Netzarim will be relieved of his command.
Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Moshe Yaalon, upon receiving the report, said that all soldiers serving in Netzarim, even those in administrative positions, must undergo arms training and must bear arms.
The other incident, on October 19, was an ambush attack on four soldiers on a foot patrol in the village of Ein Yabrud, opposite Ofrah. Three soldiers were killed, and a fourth fell wounded behind a bush and thus escaped death. The investigative report places responsibility on the shoulders of several "Duchifat" unit commanders for inefficiently preparing and planning the patrol. The report concludes that there was a series of tactical and logistical errors, including the fact that the soldiers walked the same path daily, during the same hours, permitting terrorists to study their habits.
In a related item, it has been decided that five officers will be tried for their role in the dehydration death of a soldier over a year ago. The soldier had been ordered, during a training session in the heat of the day, to climb a steep hill while carrying dozens of kilograms of equipment, after three days of training and lack of sleep.