Errors in Raid Cited; Officers Lose Jobs

Faulty judgment and operational mistakes led to Israeli army snipers killing three of their own soldiers during a botched attempt last month to capture a Palestinian militant, Israel’s top commander said. Releasing the findings of an inquiry, Lt. Gen. Shaul Mofaz said he had accepted the resignations of the commander of Israel’s West Bank forces, Brig. Gen. Shlomo Oren, and the leader of the elite Duvdevan unit, identified as Lt. Col. Mickey. The snipers have been removed from the unit. The militant, Mahmoud abu Hunoud, escaped and later surrendered to Palestinian authorities. He was sentenced to 12 years in a Palestinian prison.