Israeli commander backs forces in death of Palestinian girl

JERUSALEM (AP) — An Israeli commander has expressed support for forces that shot and killed a teenage Palestinian girl in the occupied West Bank earlier this week. A preliminary investigation by the Israeli military concluded that Jana Zakarna was hit unintentionally by Israeli fire during a military operation in the West Bank town of Jenin. Her family has disputed the findings. Amir Cohen, commander of the paramilitary border police, told a ceremony Wednesday that his forces were operating in the “fog of war” and forced to make split-second decisions while under fire. He says the forces acted “with morality, values, courage, determination and saved human lives.”