IDF urges soldiers and civilians not to hitchhike in Judea and Samaria
"Israelis enter Area A by the dozens every day. It's a violation of the law, and endangers the people entering. The excuses we hear are the same - they went to fix their cars, to shop, or they got lost - despite the big signs warning of the risks of entering," the source said.
"We take a grave view of this. People are risking their lives," he added. Referring to the threat of kidnappings for ransoming the release of Palestinian security prisoners, and the precedent set by the kidnapping and release of Gilad Schalit, the source said, "At the end of the day, small incidents can turn into bigger strategic ones."
Most Israelis who enter Area A return without authorities knowing about it, while a handful are caught by Palestinian Authority police and returned to Israel.
"We have thwarted more than 30 attempts to kidnap soldiers this year," the army source said. "The feeling in the division is that the threat is high enough to continue being a serious concern.
The division is coming up with creative ways to raise awareness among soldiers and civilians to ensure they do not enter Area A."
He added, "Even if some have forgotten the Schalit kidnapping, I can assure you that brigade commanders and other senior officers have not."Accepting a ride from someone you don't know is never a good idea. Soldiers and civilians have been kidnapped and murdered from within 'Israel proper' too. If you can't afford the bus fare, don't go or get a ride with someone you know.
Labels: kidnapping, Palestinian terrorism
posted by Carl in Jerusalem @ 9:44 PM
2 Comments:
I also stopped hitchhiking up and down the coast highway in north county San Diego back in the day when multiple other hitchhiker girls were raped, murdered, and dismembered. I stopped for at least a month. Murderer never found. I was (was?) an idiot.
Hitchhiking is risky.
"Accepting a ride from someone you don't know is never a good idea."
This misses the point.
Tomer Hazan, HY"D, KNEW his murderer. (They worked together and were friendly.)
I'd amend your statement to "Accepting a ride from someone you don't know--or from an Arab, whether you know him or not-- can be fatal."
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