An Israeli colonel has been sent home for 10 days amid allegations he told one of his soldiers to shoot a Palestinian detainee at a checkpoint.

The soldier says Col Omri Borberg ordered him to shoot the man at close range with a rubber-coated bullet.

Unknown to the Israelis, a Palestinian girl filmed the incident and the video was published by a human rights group.

Media reports say Col Borberg failed a Relief and anger ...
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Col Borberg said he told the soldier only to motion with his rifle to frighten the Palestinian, Ashraf Abu Rahma, according to an Israeli army investigation.

Military prosecutors will now decide whether there is enough evidence to indict the colonel.

Blindfolded

The incident took place near the West Bank town of Nilin earlier in July.

Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak condemned the shooting as "grave and wrong" and said the military would exact the full extent of the law.

Israeli press says Col Borberg failed a second polygraph test about his version of events, after having passed an earlier test at a private institute last week.

The video shows Col Borberg holding the arm of the newly-detained Palestinian, Mr Abu Rahma, who is bound and apparently blindfolded, while a soldier opens fire at close range.

Mr Abu Rahma was treated by Israeli military medics at the scene for an injury to his foot.

(BBC)

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