Israel’s News Blog Magazine: Daily Stories Video and Photos

By Raz Koller
Eliyahu Hushery, an 18 year old from the Samaria settlement of Itamar, was apparently kidnapped and is being held hostage somewhere in the Rammalla area. That is the IDF and police’s assessment after the teenager had disappeared on Sunday. He was last seen by a Yeshiva student from Itamar. He met him on the French Hill and Elyahu was trying to hitch a ride.

Spokesman of the Palestinian organization The Committees of the People’s Opposition, Muhamad Abed El-Al, told the press: “The settler was taken on Sunday”, but refused to approve or deny if he was alive. “An announcement will come when the time is right”, said the terrorist, “The organization has created special units in the West Bank, aimed at kidnapping soldiers and settlers”. One might add that this happens when the Israeli government is preparing the ground for Olmert’s major plan of withdrawal from the West Bank.

In the meantime, a vast force made out of police and soldiers are looking for Elyahu. The search is circled around Beit-Lechem and Rammalla. After the abduction of the soldier Gilad in Gaza, there are estimates that the Palestinians will try to kidnap more soldiers and civilians in an attempt to make Israel release prisoners in Israeli prisons.

Elyahu’s family in the meantime is praying in Itamar, along with people from the settlement. “We have an emergency team with the family at all times.” said Arie Goldberg, a member of the settlement’s secretariat, “We are a formed and unified community.”