Netanyahu apologizes for altercation between Israeli soldiers, Abbas bodyguards
Israeli and Palestinian forces engaged in minor verbal and physical altercation in the PA-controlled 'Area A'
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu offered an apology to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas following a confrontation between Israeli and Palestinian security forces near the PA President's residence in the West Bank city of Ramallah last week, according to a report by Defense News.
The incident was said to have occurred when Abbas's personal security forces refused to allow an IDF special unit to pass through a safety zone erected around the PA President's residence while on a mission to arrest a suspect in a PA-controlled area in Ramallah.
According to the report, the Israeli and Palestinian security forces engaged in minor verbal and physical altercations for 15 minutes before the commander of the Israeli troops decided to take an alternate route circumventing the safety zone around Abbas' residence.
"Our soldiers came to the barrier that blocked off the street and told their soldiers to lower their weapons, that we needed to work here," a senior Israeli official told Defense News.
"The security of Abu Mazen [Abbas] started arguing, and after a few minutes, our soldiers understood. They took a different route. There was no violence; just shouting and perhaps pushing."
Following the altercation, the Palestinians called in a complaint to Israel's Civil Administration Authority, prompting Netanyahu to send a formal apology.
"They apologized for what they claim was a mistake," a senior Palestinian commander told Defense News. "I'm not sure it was a mistake, but Netanyahu sent his apology."
The commander complained that the IDF's activity in the Palestinian Authority-controlled 'Area A' undermines the legitimacy of Palestinian security forces, while Saeb Erekat, Secretary-General of the Palestine Liberation Organization expressed frustration over the incident, telling Defense News it showed showed "utter disregard" for the Palestinian Authority's autonamy.
An IDF spokesman told Defense News said that the incident was a misunderstanding.
"This was not planned. It was an unfortunate event; and we will draw lessons from it as we continue to function in all areas where our security forces have the need to operate," the spokesman said.