Yisrael Rosenthal, the IDF reservist who was attacked on Sunday night by Palestinian Authority security forces in Area C, spoke with Arutz Sheva-Israel National News and recounted the frightening incident.
He opens by disproving the reports that he entered PA-controlled territory, was attacked, and that the PA security forces were rescuing him. "That's a total lie," Rosenthal clarifies. "I left my home on a farm near Haresha toward Jerusalem, and I drove on the 'Strongholds Route,' which is completely within Area C. This is not my first time driving on this road. I got to the Beitunia Junction, where I saw a police car and a roadblock. At this point, I thought it was an Israeli police car. The moment I approached in my vehicle, they blocked my way, opened my door, and shouted: 'Palestinian police.'"
He says that at first, he tried to understand what the PA officers wanted from him. "I grabbed my gun [that I have from being in] the rapid response team, and they said, 'No guns.' I explained where I was driving, and in the meantime, they continued to surround me, got closer, and shut off my vehicle. At a certain point, one of them grabbed my arm, and when I was unable to defend myself, they all jumped on me, sprayed a can and a half of pepper spray at me, and kicked me in the face. At one point, after they broke my glasses and took my phone and car keys, they also managed to take my gun. They removed me from the car, cuffed me, and put me in the police car."
According to Rosenthal, "While the Palestinian officers were attacking me, there was no gathering, and they even distanced people. There were only Palestinian officers there. After that, we drove for half an hour deep into Ramallah, quickly and erratically, until we reached the police station. Luckily, they did not bring me into the station."
Later, he was given the option to contact an Israeli official. "When I was in the car, I tried to contact emergency authorities, but there was no reception, and I couldn't reach anyone. Near the station, the officers switched; we drove some more, and they let me speak with someone from COGAT who told me that they would bring me to the IDF at some point, and then they took me to the police."
When he was handed over to the Israelis, Rosenthal was shocked by the story the PA security forces told the Israeli police. "I heard that the Palestinian police reported to the IDF that I was in Area A, which was a total lie. After that, the IDF also announced that I was in Area C, but the Palestinian police said that it rescued me from a gathering, which never happened."
הוא קורא לרשויות החוק ולגורמים המדיניים להבטיח את האפשרות לנסוע בבטחה בכבישים בשטחי . "חשוב מאוד שיבינו שיש צורך להפסיק את ההתנהלות הזו של המשטרה הפלסטינית ושצריך לאבטח את הציר הזה שהוא כולו בשטחי כדי שישראלים יוכלו לנסוע בו באופן חופשי. זה ציר שמשמש המון תושבים".
He calls on law enforcement and diplomatic officials to enable safe travel on the roads in Area C. "It is very important that they understand the need to stop this conduct by the Palestinian police and to secure this road, which is completely in Area C, so that Israelis can travel on it freely. Many residents use this road."
During the day, Rosenthal appealed, through the Crime Victims Department at the Honenu organization, to Defense Minister Israel Katz and Central Command Major General Avi Bluth, demanding that the Palestinian Authority security forces who attacked and detained him be arrested.
In the letter, attorney Chaim Bleicher stressed that beyond the harm caused to the reservist, the incident constituted an infringement on the sovereignty of the IDF and Israeli security forces. He called for action to prevent armed enemy forces from entering areas under IDF control.
“This is an extremely serious incident in which armed Palestinian police officers entered Area C in violation of the law, endangered regional security, assaulted and abducted an Israeli citizen. This constitutes a serious and dangerous attack both on the individual soldier and on the sovereignty of the IDF and the security forces. On behalf of the crime victim, we call for the Palestinians who attacked and beat him to be arrested as soon as possible.
“We also request that every available measure be taken to prevent such incidents from recurring, including securing the route and opening it to unrestricted Jewish traffic. This should be accompanied by IDF action to prevent armed enemy forces from entering territory under IDF responsibility," the letter stated.