Arava Highway
צילום: ליאור בלוי
Jordanian caught in Israel with rifle, ammunition
Jordanian citizen caught on Arava Highway carrying an unloaded hunting rifle, ammunition in his car. It is estimated that he crossed border by mistake
A Jordanian citizen was caught on the Arava Highway Friday carrying an unloaded hunting rifle and ammunition in his car. It is estimated that he crossed the border by mistake.
At around 7 p.m., after receiving calls regarding a vehicle with foreign license plates traveling along the Arava Highway, which leads to Eilat, police officers pulled the Jordanian over near Kibbutz Yahel.
Officers proceeded to inspect the car and found the rifle and ammunition.
Traffic Police Chief Zeev Gutman said the Jordanian, in his late 20s, was driving a Nissan with Jordanian license plates.
“He seemed very confused to the officers,” he said.
“The Jordanian showed no resistance; he spoke in English and Arabic with the police officers and was surprised when told he was in Israel. He said he did not realize he was in Israel and does not know how he had reached the Arava Highway.”
The man told officers that he lives near the Dead Sea.
“He may have crossed the border by mistake,” Gutman said. “We transferred him to the Shin Bet and army for further interrogation.”
The IDF Spokesperson’s Office said the army will examine why the patrolling forces and anti-infiltration apparatus in the area did not detect the Jordanian.
