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Jun. 15, 2014 | 12:04 AM |
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The search for the three kidnapped yeshiva students entered its fourth day. The Israeli military on Sunday called up a limited number of reserves and is now focusing most of its efforts to find Eyal Yifrah, 19, from Elad, Gil-Ad Shaer, 16, from Talmon and Naftali Frenkel, from Nof Ayalon in the Hebron area.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed on Sunday that Hamas is behind the abduction. Netanyahu asserted that he holds the Palestinian Authority responsible for the teens' fate. The Ma'an Palestinian news agency quoted Yoav Mordechai, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, as saying that Israel 'has a lot of information on the kidnapping case. The investigation is conducted in absolute secrecy.
On Sunday it was cleared for publication that one of the abducted teens managed to call the police emergency line immediately after he was taken, at 10:25 P.M. on Thursday and said: 'We've been kidnapped.'
The security cabinet is scheduled to convene in Monday at noon to further discuss efforts to locate the three teenagers. One of the ideas being considered is to expel senior Hamas members from the West Bank to Gaza, as a way of pressuring the organization. The Justice Ministry convened on Sunday to explore whether such steps are in keeping with international law.
The U.S. on Sunday condemned the kidnapping, and called for the immediate release of the three teen. In a statement published by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said that the U.S. is still looking for information as to who is behind the incident, but adds that 'many indications point to Hamas' involvement.' The military's worknig assumption is that the three are still in the West Bank.
Rockets were fired late on Sunday toward the southern city of Ashkelon. Iron Dome battery intercepted two of them, rest land in open terrain. None were wounded and no damage caused.
Click here for Sunday's live blog.
12: 22 A.M. The government is weighing whether to expel senior Hamas men from the West Bank to Gaza as a way of pressuring the organization to help resolve the kidnapping of the three teens. A senior Israeli official says the Justice Ministry had held a discussion Sunday on whether this was legally feasible.
The assessments and discussions in the Prime Minister's Office over the past few days have included talk of ways of punishing Hamas aimed at pressuring the organization's senior officials. The senior Israeli source says among of the options discussed are expelling senior Hamas men from the West Bank to Gaza; demolishing the homes of Hamas operatives and sanctions against Hamas inmates in Israeli prisoners.
Justice Ministry Tzipi Livni, together with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein and other ministry officials convened on Sunday to explore whether such steps were in keeping with international law and would stand up to challenges in the High Court of Justice. No decisions were made Sunday, but research into the issue is continuing. (Barak Ravid)
11:40 P.M. Some 50 Palestinians clash with Israeli soldiers in Beitunia near Ramallah. Soldiers fire tear gas canisters and stun grenades. (Jack Khoury and Gili Cohen)
11:19 P.M. IDF arrests two Hamas operatives in Hebron-area home, military source says. (Gili Cohen)
10:44 P.M. Palestinians report an Israeli army force is surrounding a house in the Hebron-area. Explosions were heard in the area. According to a Palestinian report, an anti-tank rocket was fired toward the house. Palestinian eyewitnesses told Haaretz that three people, including a seven-year-old child, were wounded by the rocket explosion. (Jack Khoury)
10:17 P.M. Rockets fired toward southern city of Ashkelon. Iron Dome battery intercepts two of them, rest land in open terrain. None wounded, no damage caused. Siren sounded in Regional Council Hof Ashkelon as well. (Shirley Siedler and Gili Cohen)
9:58 P.M. Security cabinet will convene again on Monday noon to discuss efforts to find kidnapped teens. (Barak Ravid)
Entities 0 Name: Hamas Count: 9 1 Name: Israeli Count: 4 2 Name: West Bank Count: 4 3 Name: Gaza Count: 3 4 Name: Gili Cohen Count: 3 5 Name: U.S. Count: 3 6 Name: Ashkelon Count: 3 7 Name: Justice Ministry Count: 2 8 Name: Barak Ravid Count: 2 9 Name: Jack Khoury Count: 2 10 Name: Tzipi Livni Count: 1 11 Name: Palestinian Authority Count: 1 12 Name: Yoav Mordechai Count: 1 13 Name: P.M. Rockets Count: 1 14 Name: Eyal Yifrah Count: 1 15 Name: Ramallah Count: 1 16 Name: P.M. IDF Count: 1 17 Name: Israel Count: 1 18 Name: Beitunia Count: 1 19 Name: Shirley Siedler Count: 1 20 Name: Netanyahu Count: 1 21 Name: Yehuda Weinstein Count: 1 22 Name: Haaretz Count: 1 23 Name: Regional Council Count: 1 24 Name: Naftali Frenkel Count: 1 25 Name: Shaer Count: 1 26 Name: Talmon Count: 1 27 Name: Benjamin Netanyahu Count: 1 28 Name: Nof Ayalon Count: 1 29 Name: John Kerry Count: 1 30 Name: High Court of Justice Count: 1 31 Name: Hebron Count: 1 32 Name: Elad Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/TYCViy Title: Israeli forces detain 80 Palestinians in search for kidnapped teens Description: Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday that three Israeli teenagers who went missing in the West Bank on Thursday night were kidnapped by "members of Hamas," the Islamic militant movement that controls the Gaza Strip and is now a supporter of the Palestinian transitional government.
