Posted on 06/30/2006 6:20:04 PM PDT by West Coast Conservative
The Palestinian militants have kidnapped a second Israeli soldier and have threatened to kill him unless Israel ends its military offensive in the Palestinian territories, the radical Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades announced overnight on Friday.
In a statement received by AFP in Gaza City, the armed group, loosely affiliated to Fatah Party, called for "the end of the Israeli offensive" and "the lifting of the blockade" in the territories.
"If our demands are not met, the Al-Aqsa Brigades will kill the kidnapped soldier," the statement said, without giving any details of the kidnapping.
The soldier was seized in the West Bank, the group said. They named him as Hoffmann Kfeir Samuel, aged 24, a resident of Hulul, south of Tel Aviv.
There was no immediate Israeli response to the kidnapping claim.
The group also demanded the release of Hamas ministers and deputies seized by Israeli forces following the earlier kidnapping of 19-year-old army corporal Gilad Shalit, along with the release of "all the other detained Palestinians".
The Israeli army launched a major air and ground offensive earlier this week, largely in the Gaza Strip, following the kidnapping of Shalit.
(Excerpt) Read more at english.aljazeera.net ...
If true (the 2nd kidnapping) unfortunately means they have already killed the first soldier and had no soldier to turn over in a swap.
Thus the second soldier becomes the lone bargaining chip.
I think this is the story on Haaretz:
16:03 IDF checking Al-Aqsa claim that it kidnapped a soldier in the West Bank (Haaretz)
16:02 Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades claim to have kidnapped IDF soldier in West Bank (Reuters)
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/ShTickers.html
Thanks! I guess I didn't scroll down far enough. I thought it was "breaking."
Al-Aqsa: Report on kidnapping soldier false
A Palestinian group belonging to the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, Fatah’s military wing, claimed Friday afternoon that it had kidnapped an Israeli soldier in the West Bank.
The group sent a message to several media outlets, but did not provide any evidence to back its claim.
Senior al-Aqsa members told Ynet that they were unaware of a soldier being abducted by the organization and that the report was apparently false. The Israel Defense Forces is looking into the report.
Senior al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades members estimated that the report was false, saying that it may have been part of the internal competition between Palestinian organization.
A senior al-Aqsa commander said: “There are people here who are unable to digest the success of the Hamas movement and the Popular Resistance Committees, which carried out the abduction in Kerem Shalom, and feel a sort of organizational envy that they are not part of this success.”
IDF officials said that the Palestinian claim was being checked, but so far there has been no official confirmation or evidence that a soldier has been kidnapped in the West Bank.
YNet
Only Palestinians are too stupid to know they are hopelessly out gunned, out classed, and out of luck.
I saw that, but thought it was regarding the original kidnapping. That article was posted earlier today, I believe.
IDF checking Al-Aqsa claim that it kidnapped a soldier in the West Bank (Haaretz)
And here is the other:
Martyrs Brigades Deny Kidnapping IDF Soldier
This post gave us the impression that al-aqsa was denying the (first/original) soldier kidnapping perhaps because he has already been killed.
So. Now that I am totally confused....;)
What? The US was defiant at a UN meeting between about this subject. Why does everyone think the US keeps Israel on a leash? I believe Israel is quite powerful....for a Middle East nation. There are a lot more factors involved here than just Israel attacking Palestine. Why do half the people on this site believe war is between 2 countries and everyone else just keeps their nose out of it?
I have said this before and I will say it again. Iran has thousands of missiles pointed into Iraq. There are thousands more pointed into Israel. America shouldn't be a bit worried?
Time to give the PA another lesson by the IDF.
Now... the Israelis have made it crystal clear who they're dealing with. No longer can the Palistinians claim that they can't control Hamas. They ARE Hamas!"
A lot of short sighted people thought Sharon an idiot for this. I always thought it brilliant! Give em a face, place , & identity! Next time they muzzie up, flatten em flatter than shiite!
They need to put every Pali male over the age of five to the sword.
Updated Saturday 01/07/2006 03:51
AGENCIES | ELMUNDO.ES
GAZA | NEW YORK | MADRID. - The Brigades of the Martyrs of A the Aqsa, arm armed of A the Fatah, have announced the kidnapping in Cisjordania of a second Israeli soldier, Hoffmann Kfeir Samuel, of 24 years, to which they threaten killing if its Army does not end the offensive in the Palestinian territories, according to an official notice received by agency France Presse.
An Israeli military spokesman assured after knowing this information that "at the moment" the Army does not have in its rows to any soldier with this name. "a person Exists who responds to this identity", she clarified, "but she has been living for years outside the country".
"If true (the 2nd kidnapping) unfortunately means they have already killed the first soldier and had no soldier to turn over in a swap.
Thus the second soldier becomes the lone bargaining chip."
That's a pretty good guess on your part. Wouldn't be surprised if you're right.
Loosely my Dear Aunt Sally. They are the terrorist action wing of the Fatah party, controlled, (as much as anything is in Arabistan) by the leaders of that party.
Likely a reservist responding to a call up. They travel on public transport, with their primary weapon.
If they really did grab one, I hope the soldier wasn't a woman.
I suspect, that they, will not/not say anything, something about actions are stronger than words....going to be a very hot weekend over there....
War is hell.
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