WARNING: Every Jew is a Target for Kidnappers

Israel’s Regional Commander for the central Israel area of Binyamin, Colonel Amir Abulafia, has warned members of Jewish community of the immediate intention of Arab terrorist to kidnap Israelis. They intend to use hostages, or the bodies of hostages, as a trade-off for Arabs imprisoned in Israel.

There have even been a few kidnapping attempts recently which were, thank God, were unsuccessful. In one instance, two Jewish girls who had been hitchhiking not far from Jerusalem were accosted by two armed Arabs who jumped out of a car and tried to catch the 9^th-grade girls trying to hitchhike to Jerusalem. While one girl got away, the other was being forced into the car when and IDF officer came by and the Arabs fled. They were later arrested and will stand trial for attempted kidnapping and murder as investigators later found the freshly-dug grave they had already prepared for their victim(s).

No matter how often people are warned -- don’t hitchhike, lock your car doors when you are driving -- they seem unconcerned about the danger and seriousness of the warnings, perhaps an expression of the “It-won’t-happen-to-me.” syndrome. Hitchhiking is common in Israel; young soldiers on leave or returning and young people wanting to travel during hours public transportation is less frequent are more prone to hitchhike. Col. Abulafia mentioned those who try to catch rides at intersections in Judea and Samaria as particularly in danger since Arab-owned cars travel freely on these roads.