A Palestinian Authority thief nabbed a car belonging to the Jewish National Fund in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Gilo on Friday – and took the three-year-old girl sitting in the backseat as well. Police immediately launched an extensive rescue operation, and located the child alive and well several minutes later.
The car had been seen heading for the PA-controlled city of Bethlehem, a short distance from Gilo. Police conducted a manhunt in the area, with backup from a helicopter. The car was quickly found abandoned near the PA Arab village of El-Khader.
The thief, who had apparently realized that he was the subject of a major search, had abandoned the vehicle. The child was unhurt.
Two similar incidents occurred in Israel in recent months, both in the Arab city of Shfaram. In one case, a car was stolen while a two-year-old sat inside; the child was later found unharmed near the local police station.
In the other case, thieves stole a car in Shfaram with a four-month-old baby inside. The car was later found abandoned near the neighboring village Aablin; the baby was inside, unharmed.