Qalandiya checkpoint (archives)
Photo: AFP
Israeli charged with kidnapping real estate agent for PA
Indictment filed against Givat Ze'ev resident alleges he kidnapped east Jerusalem real estate agent wanted by Palestinian Authority on suspicion of selling land to Jews
An indictment was filed against 45-year-old Givat Ze'ev resident Yoram Amor, for the kidnapping of an Arab real estate agent from east Jerusalem, who was wanted for questioning by the Palestinian Authority for the sale of land in Jerusalem to Jews.
According to the indictment, filed at the Jerusalem District Court last week and cleared for publication on Thursday, Amor was introduced by a his friend, Abdullah Hader, to Osama Mansour, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' advisor who oversees the matter of sales of Palestinian land in Jerusalem to Jews.
Mansour told Amor, Hader and another man named Issa Natsheh, that real estate agent Ahmad Masri was suspected of selling land to Jews and bribing officials in the Palestinian Authority. Mansour said Masri was wanted for questioning, but refused to show up.
A few days later, the indictment says, Hader told Amor and Natsheh that Masri had approached him asking he assist him in getting a resident of east Jerusalem into the Palestinian territories. Hader pointed him in Amor's direction.
About a week later, Amor told Hader that he had agreed to drive Masri to Beit El, creating the perfect opportunity to seize him and deliver him to the Palestinian Authority by force.
The following day, Amor picked Masri up in his vehicle, came up with a cover story explaining why he had to enter the Palestinian territory, and drove him to the meeting point agreed upon with Mansour.
The indictment alleges that Amor was aware of Mansour plan's to transfer Masri to Palestinians forces for questioning.
When they arrived at the Qalandiya checkpoint near Ramallah, six gunmen forced Masri out of the vehicle and dragged him into another car standing nearby.
Masri was taken to the attorney general's office in Ramallah, where he was detained and jailed despite his status as an Israeli permanent resident. He was questioned for three days before his release.
Indictments for kidnapping were also filed against Osama Mansour, Abdullah Hader and Issa Natsheh.
Amor has a criminal record including 23 prior convictions for which he served several jail terms totaling 16 years.
Amor's attorney Ariel Atari told Ynet in response: "According to the prosecution, the vision of the end of days is occurring before our very eyes: A Jewish real estate agent from Judea and Samaria makes contact with his sworn enemy in charge of prevent the sale of land to Jews, in order to kidnap someone who sold him land and caused him great financial profit.
"This is a completely fallacious indictment, that does not have an ounce of truth."
