Israeli woman suspected of trying to smuggle Palestinians into Israel
Soldier at busy Hizma Checkpoint whose suspicion was aroused by van driver, discovers 10 Palestinians concealed inside vehicle
A military police officer stationed at the checkpoint whose suspicion was aroused by the woman's vehicle, decided to stop the car and check it, despite the fact that the female driver, an Israeli woman in her 40s residing in one of the neighboring communities, was well known to the soldiers.
The illegal aliens inside the van (Photo: Courtesy of Military Police)
The soldier ordered the woman to pull over. When he opened the van's trunk he discovered several Palestinians bunched together. The vehicle's windows were covered in black curtains meant to conceal the rest of the illegal aliens.
Captain Ran Fisher said, "As far as we're concerned, any such illegal alien is a potential terrorist. The soldier's conduct, his professionalism, alertness and resourcefulness prevented the Palestinians' entry into Israel."
Fisher related how the soldier noticed suspicious signs in the vehicle.
"Unfortunately we come across such incidents of attempts to smuggle illegal aliens by Jews as well. At the most part, the reasons for them are financial. Based on past inquiries, one can earn hundreds of shekels for every Palestinian successfully smuggled into Israel. "
The driver cooperated with the soldiers at the checkpoint, admitted to trying to transfer the Palestinians, and was turned over to police for questioning.
