Palestinian says soldier forced him to go to Itzhar
19-year-old Palestinian was afraid Golani soldier was trying to kidnap him, drove his car into a ditch, and fled; military police opened an investigation into the incident and the soldier was taken in for questioning.
A Palestinian youth claimed Thursday that he was forced to drive to Itzhar by an IDF soldier.
The 19-year-old Palestinian from the village of Madama near Itzhar was leaving a chicken coop he owns near Route 60 when he saw the soldier standing alone by the side of the road.
IDF investigating incident.
The soldier indicated to the Palestinian to stop and the Palestinian, who said he was sure this was a routine check, stopped for the soldier who started searching the car.
Then, according to the Palestinian, the soldier ordered him to get in the car and got in with him, demanding the Palestinian to go to Itzhar.
The Palestinian said he was afraid that the soldier, from the Golani reconnaissance battalion, was trying to kidnap him, so he drove his car into a ditch on the side of the road and escaped.
The Palestinian's car after he drove it into a ditch.
The soldier also fled the car and was able to stop a bus taking soldiers to a nearby outpost and board it.
The Palestinian called for help and IDF troops who arrived at the scene stopped the bus. An eye witness who was at the scene boarded the bus with the troops and identified the soldier, who was then taken for questioning.
An IDF spokesman said: "A CID investigation into the incident was launched shortly after it happened. When the investigation concludes, its conclusions will be passed on to the Military Advocate General."
