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August 8, 2003/Av 10 5763, Vol. 55, No. 50
Fears rise over deadly kidnappings
GIL SEDAN
Jewish Telegraphic Agency
JERUSALEM - A month into the cease-fire declared by Palestinian terrorist groups, the fear of suicide bombers has been replaced by fear of kidnappers.
The Israel Defense Forces repeatedly has warned soldiers not to hitchhike, young lovers to avoid isolated places and parents to think twice before letting their children out at night.
As for protecting gov-ernment officials, the security belt around Cabinet ministers is as tight as ever.
Concern has intensified following the abduction last month of taxi driver Eliahu Gurel - who was rescued from Ramallah in an operation by IDF commandos - and the murder of soldier Oleg Sheichat, who was abducted in the Galilee.
This week, authorities were searching for two missing teenagers: Dana Bennet, 18, a waitress from Tiberias, who disappeared on the night of July 31, and a 19-year-old American yeshiva student studying in Jerusalem, who disappeared Aug. 3.
The security forces often have warned that terrorists might try to kidnap Israeli soldiers and civilians in order to try to trade them as pawns for large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.
The warnings take on extra weight as Israel and the Palestinians tussle over the release of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Israel on Aug. 4 publicized a list of 443 prisoners to be released this week, but the Palestinian Authority is demanding that Israel release thousands.
The impasse has increased frustration and rage among families of Palestinian terrorists and among Israeli Arabs, creating the moti-vation for kidnappings, security officials warn.
However, in the cases of Gurel and Sheichat, the kidnappers did not seriously try to negotiate a deal for Palestinian prisoners.
In the case of Gurel, the kidnappers demanded the release of prisoners but soon reverted to demanding ransom - and eventually got nothing.
In the case of Sheichat, no contact was made between kidnappers and authorities - probably because the kidnappers killed the soldier shortly after abducting him.
In the cases still open, Bennet disappeared on the night of July 31, shortly after leaving a cab that drove her home from the restaurant where she works. Police say they're in the dark about her fate.
The yeshiva student disappeared Aug. 3 while visiting Mount Meron, near Safed, when he stayed behind at a holy man's tomb while his friends went hiking.
Police searched for him in Safed, Jerusalem and near Netanya, where one person claimed he dropped the student off after giving him a lift.
Police don't know whether Bennet or the American yeshiva student were kid-napped, and it remains unclear whether the dis-appearances have anything to do with terrorist activities.
However, police have expressed concern that the disappearances of Sheichat, Bennet and the American student in the Galilee region may all be linked to a single gang of terrorists.
Security forces on Aug. 4 were able to arrest two terrorists responsible for suicide bombings in Jer-usalem. The two allegedly confessed that they also had planned to kidnap soldiers, civilians and politicians, including Prime Minister Ariel Sharon and other Cabinet ministers.
Samer Atrash and Omar Sharif, both residents of eastern Jerusalem, allegedly drove and assisted the suicide bombers who blew up buses in Jerusalem last May and June. Seven people were killed in an explosion at an intersection in the French Hill neighborhood on May 18, and 17 people were killed in a June 11 explosion downtown.
Both men used their Israeli identity cards to move freely around the country and collect information on potential targets.
The suspects reportedly said they also had attempted to kidnap Israeli civilians after making contact with them through the Internet.
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