Posted on 06/28/2006 5:03:03 AM PDT by Esther Ruth
Hamas-Affiliated Group Threatens to Kill Kidnapped Youth 14:54 Jun 28, '06 / 2 Tammuz 5766 by Hillel Fendel
The Popular Resistance Committees announced that it is holding its second Israeli kidnapping victim - Eliyahu Asheri, 18, of Itamar - and said it would execute him if the IDF does not quit Gaza.
While the IDF continues its incursion into Gaza to free abducted Cpl. Gilad Shalit, who was taken early Sunday morning by a terrorists who tunneled into an Israeli army outpost, Hamas groups say they have kidnapped a second Israeli.
Eliyahu, son to Miriam and Yitro Asheri, is a student at the pre-military yeshiva academy in N'vei Tzuf, in the western Binyamin area. He was last seen at 9 PM Sunday at the French Hill junction in northern Jerusalem, where hundreds of people wait for rides northward every day. An unconfirmed report has it that he was last seen shortly afterwards outside Ofrah.
Eliyahu was to have joined his yeshiva colleagues on a trip to the Golan Heights, but the head of the academy called Monday morning to say that Eliyahu never arrived. After ruling out the possibility that he had gone off on his own, his parents informed the police of his disappearance that afternoon.
Volunteers spread out in northern Jerusalem and in nearby Yesha communities with a photo of Eliyahu, asking passersby if they had seen him. His name for prayers: Eliyahu Pinchas ben Miriam.
The Hamas-linked Popular Resistance Committees (PRC) terrorist group announced late Sunday night that it had kidnapped a "settler." Nothing more was heard from them until Monday afternoon, after reports of Eliyahu's disappearance began to circulate. A PRC spokesman then confirmed that a settler had been kidnapped, but said he would not "give out information for free."
This morning, a PRC spokesman made this announcement: "I declare for the first time that the kidnapped Zionist that Israel is looking for is the same settler we are holding. He is a soldier in a Zionist military college, 18.5 years old, and his name is Eliyahu Pinchas Asheri." The terrorists later released, from Gaza, a video showing a photo of Eliyahu's identity card; the original card is assumed to be in Samaria, with the kidnappers.
The terrorists added that Eliyahu would be executed if Israel does not end its military incursion into Gaza.
Arutz-7 asked a spokesman for the Asheri family if the army was preparing an offensive to seek Eliyahu's release, similar to that being waged in Gaza for the release of the soldier Gilad Shalit. The spokesman, Eliyahu's uncle, said, "Up until a half-hour ago, the army had no guarantee that he was kidnapped. However, now that the PRC has released the video, Israel and the army hold the PRC full responsible for his safety."
Among the visitors to the Asheri home since yesterday were Shomron Division Commander Col. Yuval Bazak, and Rabbi Chaim Druckman, national head of the Yeshivot Bnei Akiva movement. Rabbi Druckman and his wife essentially adopted Eliyahu's mother when she was a child, and Eliyahu grew up as their grandson.
Rumors that the body of an Israeli was found in Ramallah yesterday have been dispelled.
Hamas spokesmen have threatened even more kidnappings of Israelis, until all Arab prisoners in Israeli prisons are released. The army is currently studying 16 specific warnings of terrorist attacks, including kidnappings.
The IDF plans to institute a schedule of shuttle rides in Judea and Samaria next week, and asks hitchhikers to stand only in groups and at recognized hitchhiking posts.
Click here for our free Daily News Report from Israel
Published: 10:13 June 28, 2006 Last Update: 14:54 June 28, 2006
Oh I see..the IDF invasion of Gaza to kill terrorists is foul play but kidnapping people and murdering them is perfectly legitimate.
It is long past time for Israel to get roman with these bastards.
Irael response. For every hour after 5:00 pm that our soldier is not returned, we will level the equivalent of one city block starting with government buildings.
What is this? They are going to kill him a second time? I thought his charred body was already found.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.