Arrest of illegal aliens (archives)
Photo: Eran Cohen
Palestinians: IDF destroying vehicles used to smuggle workers
B'Tselem quotes residents of south Mount Hebron area as saying soldiers torching vehicles used to smuggle Palestinians into Israel. Army says looking into allegations
Palestinians from the south Mount Hebron area in the West Bank claim that in the past few days IDF soldiers have destroyed several vehicles belonging to people who have used them in attempts to smuggle Palestinians into Israel.
The B'Tselem human rights group on Tuesday quoted one Palestinian as saying that seven or eight vehicles have been destroyed by the IDF in recent days.
"Yesterday they burned down a Ford Transit that was worth NIS 15,000 ($4,000)," the Palestinian said, "And the day before that they set fire to a Subaru. Sometimes they push the vehicles into the valley, or ram into them with their jeeps."
The IDF Spokesperson's Office said in response, "The alleged incidents go against the army's values and guidelines.
"Brigadier-General Nitzan Alon, head of the Judea and Samaria Division, decided to suspend a company commander and another soldier until the allegations are checked," the army said.
