Itamar rapid response squad members detained

Tuesday, January 20, 2015, 16:18 On Tuesday, January 20, policemen from the Department of Nationalist Crime in the Central Unit of the Yehuda and Shomron Police detained a member of Itamar’s rapid response squad and a member of the rapid response squad of the Rekhes HaGidonim hilltop community adjacent to Itamar on suspicion of involvement with an incident on Saturday, January 3, during which Arab rioters suspected of attacking IDF forces were injured. One of the detainees is an outstanding soldier in an elite unit who was detained at his army base while serving active reserve duty.
According to reports the incident began after Arabs stole a flock of sheep from Givat Alumot, a hilltop community adjacent to Itamar. Rapid response squad members and IDF soldiers were called to the scene and began to search the area. The flock was located during the searches, however during the searches a concern arose that Jewish children herding another flock had been kidnapped and therefore additional forces were called up.
During the searches disturbances developed during the course of which many Arabs from the village of Akrava came out and threw rocks. The Arabs claim that several of them were injured by shooting. Large numbers of IDF forces arrived and clashed with the Arab rioters from Akrava for many hours. The rapid response squad members returned to Itamar after the flock was located and the possibility of a kidnapping was ruled out.
After their detention on Tuesday, January 20, the police brought the rapid response squad members to the Petah Tikva Magistrate Court. Honenu attorney Adi Kedar is representing them.
Honenu stated that, “This is a scandal. Unfortunately once again the police have detained the people responsible for a community’s security, who fulfilled their duties bravely and efficiently, instead of dealing with the rioting Arabs. We hope that the system will come to its senses quickly and that the detainees will be released.”

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