Israeli driver detained after being attacked in Nablus while taking taxi for repairs
Cops reiterate ban on Israelis entering Palestinian-controlled areas following incident, which occurred shortly after security forces killed 3 terror suspects in the West Bank city
An Israeli taxi driver was attacked on Tuesday after entering the northern West Bank city of Nablus, where Israeli security forces killed three Palestinian terror suspects during an operation earlier in the day.
According to police, the driver told officers he entered Nablus to have work done on his car, a common practice among Israelis who prefer the cheaper prices of Palestinian mechanics across the Green Line.
After identifying him as Israeli, local Palestinians threw rocks and other objects at the cab, damaging the vehicle and lightly injuring the driver, a police statement said.
He then fled to a military checkpoint where he received medical treatment, before being detained by police for questioning. Israelis are barred from entering West Bank areas under Palestinian control.
Police said the driver was later released under unspecified conditions.
“The Israel Police reiterates that Israelis are banned from entering Palestinian Authority territories and that entering endangers their lives and endangers the security forces who are called to rescue them,” the police statement said.
The incident came shortly after the deadly raid, which security forces said targeted a cell behind a string of recent shooting attacks on Israeli civilians and soldiers in the West Bank. Police said the suspects were fatally shot while readying to shoot at officers from the Yamam counterterrorism unit who ambushed them.
