An unusual security incident occurred in Binyamin overnight Wednesday when Breslover chassidim fled the police out of fear they would be arrested for desertion, and police feared that Palestinians had abducted them.

The incident began when about 10 Breslover chassidim entered Shechem overnight. On the way back to Jerusalem, one of the drivers committed a traffic violation— crossing a solid dividing line—that was spotted by nearby police officers. The officers pursued the vehicle. The driver, fearing that he and his passengers would be arrested for draft desertion, fled into the Palestinian village of Mukhmas, near Ramallah, where their car came under attack by local Arabs.

One of the passengers called police and said they were being attacked. When security forces arrived at the village, they found a vehicle with Israeli license plates, a shattered windshield, and Chassidish hats lying on the seat, triggering a major security response over suspicions that it was a kidnapping incident.

Security forces launched extensive searches to locate the chassidim. During the operation, the village was placed under lockdown, nearby roads were closed, and large security forces were deployed, assisted by an Israeli Air Force helicopter.

A short time later, two of the chassidim called the police emergency hotline, saying they had been in the vehicle and had already left the village.

Despite those reports, and because of the seriousness of the incident, emergency procedures were activated by all security agencies. Large numbers of forces were deployed to the area and conducted searches until it was confirmed that no Israelis remained inside the village.

One of the chassidim told Ynet: “We’re fine. We spoke with the officers and told them that everyone is home. We passed by the village, and two Palestinians crashed into the car, and it was completely wrecked. When we got out of the wrecked car, a lynch began, and we escaped by a neis. Because of the wrecked empty car, they thought it was a kidnapping, but, Baruch Hashem, everyone got out, joined up with the others, and made it home.”

Another account of the incident stated that the Chassidim saw a police patrol car and feared they would be arrested because they were deserters. They fled toward the village, where the confrontation with Palestinians began, and from there they escaped. One of them said that someone driving a private vehicle arrived to rescue them.

At this stage, police have opened an investigation into the incident, and several Israeli suspects have been detained for questioning.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)