In a tragic case of mistaken identity, the IDF accidentally shot two Israelis yesterday, mistaking them for Palestinian terrorists.
Yehuda Ben-Yosef, 22, of Ma’aleh Adumim, and Sec.-Lt. Yoav Doron, 23, from Jerusalem who was on demobilization leave were hired by the regional council to guard an isolated outpost a kilometer northwest of Pnei Hever.
The IDF Spokesman expressed regret for the incident, calling it “a tragic mistake,” and said there will be investigation.
This was a very sad mistake of the sort that do happen in times of war. Compared to many wars, which have high levels of what the Israelis would call “balagan”, these incidents are – thankfully – rare in Israel. That doesn’t bring the two security guards back to life, of course.
It is worth noting that the Israeli army of course took responsibility right away and issued an apology for the mistake. Had this been the opposite, a case of innocent Palestinians killed by friendly fire, two years later they’d still be trying to pin their deaths on Israel, as in the case of Mohammed Al-Dura.