Palestinian forces intentionally opened fire at Breslov Chassidim last month, an Israel Defense Forces report concluded on Sunday, countering initial Palestinian claims that the shooting, which resulted in the death of one Israeli, was a mistake.

Last month, Palestinian security forces opened fire on three cars full of Israelis who entered Shechem to Daven at Kever Yosef without permission and then tried to break through a local checkpoint.

25-year-old Ben-Joseph Livnat HY”D, the nephew of Culture and Science Minister Limor Livnat, was killed in the incident.

Palestinian officials indicated at the time that the shooting had been a mistake, claiming that the Israeli vehicles failed to heed to Palestinian policemen’s orders to stop.

A statement by the IDF sent to YWN Israel reads as follows:

Lt. Gen. Gantz received the findings of the Central Command’s investigation into the incident in Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus on April 24th, 2011, where Ben-Yosef Livnat was killed and five additional worshipers injured while entering the tomb. The Chief of Staff concluded that the Palestinian officers whom opened fire did so in an unwarranted manner as there was no imminent and impending danger to their lives. Although the inquiry finds that the firing at the worshipers was not coordinated in advance, it was concluded that the officers fired deliberately and with intention to harm the worshipers who arrived at Joseph’s Tomb. The Chief of Staff noted that the IDF must operate to counter uncoordinated entries adding that he looks severely upon Israelis who put their lives in jeopardy by entering Joseph’s Tomb and territories in area A.

(Dov Gordon – YWN Israel)