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Saturday, December 20, 2025
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Saturday, December 20, 2025
IDF says PA security forces located, returned soldier who entered Jericho to go shopping
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
An off-duty Israeli soldier illegally entered the West Bank city of Jericho earlier this week for shopping, before being located by the Palestinian Authority’s security forces.
The incident, which took place on Tuesday, was first reported by Channel 12 news this evening. The IDF confirms the report to The Times of Israel.
The soldier was questioned by the PA security forces before being handed over to Israeli authorities.
In his questioning with the IDF Military Police, the soldier said he entered the city, not in uniform, to “shop cheaply.”
The military says it views the incident gravely. By law, Israelis are barred from entering West Bank areas controlled by the PA.
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