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Palestinians Attempt to Kidnap the Next Bargaining Chip

(Israel Hayom) Nadav Shragai - A year ago, Yael Shahak and her 8-year-old daughter were returning from a family gathering to their home in Beit El in the West Bank. Suddenly, the car in front of them slowed down, then stopped in front of her, blocking her way. Yael tried to go in reverse, but the other car also shifted into reverse and drove after her. Then four young men got out of the car and signaled to Yael to open her car door. When she refused, they began smashing the car windows with metal rods. Luckily, another car arrived driven by a Jewish resident. Lookouts warned the men to flee. Only a few months ago, it was learned that Yael and her daughter had been saved from a kidnapping attempt in which they were to be used as bargaining chips for the release of Palestinian prisoners. The terrorist cell, discovered by the Israel Security Agency, was headed by Muhammad Manzar Muhammad Ramadan of El-Bireh. There were other attempts at kidnapping. Near Beit Aryeh, the members of the cell tried to entice a Jewish driver out of his car, but he managed to avoid them. An another attempt, an Israeli woman driving along the access road to Maaleh Levonah was blocked by the cell members, who began to smash the windows of her car, but she managed to maneuver and speed away. In 2012, 26 attempts were made to kidnap soldiers, and an unknown number of attempts were made to kidnap civilians. This year one took place just several weeks ago. One terrorist cell tried for several days to kidnap soldiers or civilians from bus and train stations throughout the Sharon region in the center of the country. But they did not succeed because the soldiers and civilians refused the ride they offered.
2013-03-18 00:00:00
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