Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Teenage hitchhikers still alive, says Israel, as hunt goes on for kidnappers

 

Ian Deitch
Saturday 14 June 2014 17:00 EDT
Comments
Israeli soldiers check the IDs of Palestinian cars as they man a checkpoint on the entrance to Hebron
Israeli soldiers check the IDs of Palestinian cars as they man a checkpoint on the entrance to Hebron (AFP/Getty)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Three teenagers who disappeared in the West Bank while reportedly hitchhiking are believed to be alive, Israel's Defence minister said yesterday.

Security forces have been searching the West Bank since the students at a Jewish seminary, including an American, went missing on Thursday night, amid suspicions that they were kidnapped by Palestinian militants. Two of the missing are 16; the third is aged 19.

Moshe Ya'alon said yesterday that searches were continuing and that troops had made some arrests. "I hope these efforts will lead us as quickly as possible to the missing in order to rescue them," Mr Ya'alon said. "As long as we don't know otherwise, our working assumption is they're alive."

Earlier on Saturday, a senior Israeli military official said Israel was working with the Palestinian Authority. Details remain scarce of the teens' disappearance. Local media reported that they were hitchhiking home to their settlements in the West Bank.

AP

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in