Settler youth activist leader arrested
Avri Ran evaded police for over half a year, before being arrested on holiday by the Kineret
Avri Ran, one of the leaders of the ‘hilltop youth’ right-wing activist group, was arrested by police Wednesday following a search that last more than six months.
Ran, a resident of the West Bank village of Itamar, was arrested while on holiday with his family at a resort at the Sea of Galilee. Special detectives took Ran into custody and brought him to the police station in Ariel for questioning.
Six-month search
Ran was arrested seven months ago on suspicion of attacking a Palestinian. He was released from custody to house arrest in the home of his borther in Netanya, but violated the terms of his arrest and escaped.
Head of investigation Udi Levi told Ynet his unit had searched in vain for Ran since then, but acted Tuesday on a lead.
“For the last six months, we have been looking for him," he said. "Yesterday we received some information that he was in the north on holiday with his family. We didn’t know exactly where, but we started interviewing people and managed to track him down.”
“Avri told us that he had hidden in 20 different places, including forests and caves. He was completely shocked (that we caught up with him) and did not expect it. After allowing him to speak to his family, whom he hadn’t seen in half a year, we took him in for questioning. His remand will be extended later today,” said Levi.
