Kfar Kassem man flees police with slaughtered sheep in truck

After short chase, resident of Israeli-Arab city caught transporting illegal Palestinian alien, 'kosher' slaughtered sheep

Raanan Ben-Zur|Published: 09.08.10 , 13:56

A 36-year-old Kfar Kassem resident and a Palestinian who is residing in Israel illegally were arrested Wednesday after trying to flee police officers who ordered them to pull over.

A search of the Toyota truck the men were travelling in found 10 slaughtered sheep.

The truck with sheep in back (Photo: Photo: Sharon Sub-District Police)

After spotting a Rosh HaAyin Police squad car, the men tried to flee the scene but were apprehended following a short chase.

The Palestinian, 39, hails from the West Bank village of Azoun.

After removing a blanket covering the truck's flatbed, officers were surprised to find 10 freshly slaughtered sheep.

The Israeli suspect said the sheep were slaughtered in accordance with the laws of kashrut in Kfar Vradim and were being transported to his butcher shop due to the high demand for meat ahead of the Jewish New Year and the Muslim Eid al-Fitr festival.

Police said that in addition to offenses of fleeing police and transporting an illegal alien, the Kfar Qassem man also transported the slaughtered sheep under inadequate conditions, as the truck did not contain a refrigerated compartment.

The sheep were confiscated by health inspectors who will check whether they are edible.