Questions over police response to kidnapping

Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu

Hours passed before a search operation was launched. Netanyahu holds Palestinians responsible.

While the broad operation to find the three Israeli youths kidnapped on Thursday continues in Judea and Samaria, tough questions arise from examination of what happened in the first few hours after it became known that they had gone missing. The first information about the incident was received by the police at 22:25 on Thursday, but only about seven hours later did an extensive operation to locate them begin.

Information that a kidnap had been perpetrated was reportedly received by the police on Thursday evening. Only an hour later did a patrol set out for the Alon Shvut junction in the Etzion bloc

It took several more hours, and an approach to the police by the parents of one of the kidnapped boys, before the attempt to find them gathered pace.

The three youths, Eyal Yifrach, Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frankel, studied at the yeshiva high school Mekor Chaim in Kibbutz Kfar Etzion, and were returning to their homes when they were seized.

The Israel Police stated in response to the report, "There are many details concerning the kidnapping, and at present we will not comment upon, confirm, or deny any detail connected with the investigation. At this stage we are coordinating a huge effort with the IDF and the General Security Service to find the missing boys."

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a briefing yesterday evening, "We are in the midst of a wide-ranging operation to locate and return the three missing youths.

"I spoke with their parents before the onset of shabbat. I told them that we are doing everything that the State of Israel can do, and even more, in order to bring their children who are our children back home. I must say that these parents showed admirable restraint and strength of spirit. In these difficult hours the heart of the entire nation is with the teens and their families.

"The IDF, ISA and all the security services are currently engaged in intensive operations in order to locate the missing youths. I thank them for this activity; they are working round the clock. Naturally, I cannot share everything we know, not at this time; however, I can say this: Our young people have been abducted by a terrorist organization. This is absolutely clear; there is no doubt about this. They were abducted by a terrorist organization.

"We hold Abu Mazen and the Palestinian Authority responsible for all attacks against Israel that originate from their territory, whether this is Judea and Samaria or the Gaza Strip.

"To my regret, this event underscores what we have been saying, myself, the defense minister and the government of Israel for many months: The pact with Hamas has led to very harsh results, results which are the exact opposite of advancing peace between us and the Palestinians."

Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on June 15, 2014

© Copyright of Globes Publisher Itonut (1983) Ltd. 2013

Benjamin Netanyahu
Benjamin Netanyahu
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