Honenu Attorney Chaim Bleicher; Photo credit: Honenu
Monday, August 24, 2026, 17:04 Last night, Palestinian Authority police officers attacked an IDF reserve soldier and abducted him to Ramallah. Honenu Attorney Chaim Bleicher sent a letter on his behalf to Defense Minister Yisrael Katz and Central Command Chief Major General Avi Bluth demanding the arrest of the officers involved. Attorney Bleicher stressed that the incident not only harmed the individual soldier but also undermined the sovereignty of the IDF and other Israeli security forces. He called for immediate action to prevent armed enemy forces from entering areas under IDF control.
Attorney Bleicher described the sequence of events as follows: “My client, a reserve soldier, was driving from Gush Talmonim toward Route 443. Near the village of Beitunia he saw a police vehicle blocking the road. He approached the checkpoint to determine what was happening and whether the forces were Israeli. To his astonishment, he discovered the officers were from the Palestinian Authority (commonly referred to as ‘Shu’pim’).
“The officers noticed him, surrounded his vehicle, and called for reinforcements. When they tried to take his weapon and he refused, they attacked him violently, spraying pepper spray directly into his face and beating him all over his body. They seized his personal weapon, dragged him from the car while continuing to beat him, handcuffed him, loaded him into a police vehicle, and drove recklessly into central Ramallah to a police station.
“About an hour later, they took him to the outskirts of Ramallah, where they handed him over to IDF forces. As a result of the assault, my client is suffering from bruises and a facial burn caused by the pepper spray.”
The letter continues: “This is an extremely serious incident. Armed Palestinian Authority police officers entered Area C illegally, endangered regional security, and beat and abducted an Israeli citizen. The attack constitutes a severe and dangerous assault both on the individual soldier and on the sovereignty of the IDF and other security forces. On behalf of the victim, we demand the prompt arrest of the officers who attacked and beat him.”
The letter further urges Defense Minister Katz and Major General Bluth to take all necessary measures to prevent such incidents from recurring. These include securing the road so that Jewish traffic can move freely, and ensuring that IDF forces prevent armed enemy personnel from entering areas under IDF control.