Contrary to initial investigation: Palestinian police officers arrested reservist in Area C
Palestinian police officers set up a checkpoint in an area where they are prohibited from operating independently and arrested the soldier on their own initiative. The soldier was driving on the 'Ma'azim Road' — a dangerous route where travel is supposed to be coordinated with the IDF.
The IDF investigation is ongoing, but initial findings indicate that the version of events provided immediately after the incident was incorrect. It has been established that Palestinian police officers set up a checkpoint in Area C, where they are prohibited from operating independently. The reservist, who was driving through the area, was detained by them and subsequently handed over to the IDF.
Contrary to claims that Palestinian security services arrived at the scene due to a crowd gathering and concerns for the Israeli's safety, the investigation confirms that the arrest was an initiative taken by the police officers themselves. Consequently, the reservist's account of the circumstances has been validated.
However, the reservist's own conduct remains a relevant context: he was driving on the 'Ma'azim Road', a route passing through dangerous areas where travel must be coordinated with the IDF. Nevertheless, this does not diminish the severity of the incident: Palestinian forces established a checkpoint in Area C and detained an Israeli reservist in a location where they had no authority to act.
The incident occurred in western Binyamin while the reservist was driving on the Beitunia bypass road toward the Dolev-Talmonim bloc. As previously reported by 'Israel Hayom', the Palestinian police officers seized his military weapon; the reservist was not harmed. Following the incident, MK Zvi Sukkot arrived at the scene and demanded that the IDF locate and arrest the Palestinian police officers involved.
