Palestinian sources in Ramallah reported Wednesday evening that a large IDF force has entered the city, where kidnapped Israeli settler Eliyahu Asheri is reportedly held. According to the Palestinians, the Israel Defense Forces surrounded the home near offices belonging to Fatah, and exchanges of fire were heard in the area.
Ynet has learned that a wanted Fatah al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades member was found in the home. Three Palestinians were arrested in the operation, but reports claim the three are construction workers.
| Second Israeli Captive |
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| Abductors present Eliyahu Asheri's ID card / Efrat Weiss |
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Popular Resistance Committees spokesman: Threat to hurt kidnapped settler if Gaza is invaded 'serious'; family members at settlement of Itamar fear for 18-year-old son's life. 'Watch over him, treat him well,' mother begs |
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According to the report a police officer in the Palestinian police and originally a Gaza resident was hiding in the house.
At first Palestinians believed that the army's entry was part of an effort to search for the kidnapped teenager. However, due to the fact that the suspect is a Fatah member, it seems links to the operation and the kidnapping are weak.
According to reports, the suspect was taken for interrogation by security forces.
Linked to kidnapping?
Various security apparatus in the Palestinian Authority are continuing to check to see if there is a connection between the two incidents.
In the meantime, a joint operations room set up by security apparatus in Ramallah in order to try and track down Asheri and see if he is being held in the city or in another area of the West Bank, continued to operate.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has ordered all of the heads of Palestinian security organizations to exert every effort to track down Asheri, according to Palestinian sources.
On Wednesday afternoon, the Popular Resistance Committees presented a picture of the identity card of Asheri, an Itamar resident, who disappeared from his home over the weekend.
It is believed he was kidnapped at a hitchhiker's post and is being held in the Ramallah or Bethlehem area. Samaria Division Commander Colonel Yuval Bezek arrived at the youth's home and promised his parents: "We'll do everything to help you."
Efrat Weiss contributed to the report
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