Two residents of Bnei Brak were arrested Monday after illegally entering the Palestinian city of Shechem, located in Area A of the West Bank. Investigators later determined that the pair had entered the city on previous occasions as well. Although a court ordered their release under restrictive conditions, their vehicle was confiscated for 60 days.

According to police, IDF forces alerted authorities after spotting the two men inside Shechem. Soldiers located them as they were leaving the city, after which officers from the Judea and Samaria District Police arrested them and transferred them to the Ariel police station for questioning.

During the investigation, police discovered that this was not the first time the suspects had entered the Palestinian city. At the conclusion of the investigation, the two were brought before a court, which ordered their release under restrictive conditions. In addition, the vehicle they used to enter Area A was impounded for 60 days in accordance with Israeli law.

Police noted that just this past weekend, security forces rescued several Israeli civilians—including an IDF soldier—who had entered the Palestinian city of Jericho, also located in Area A. According to investigators, the group had traveled there to attend a party. After being rescued, the civilians were placed under criminal investigation, while the soldier was transferred to the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division for further handling.

Security officials again stressed that the entry of Israeli civilians into Area A is prohibited by law and poses a serious danger to both those entering and the security forces that are often required to risk their own lives to rescue them. Authorities added that entering Area A is a criminal offense punishable by up to one year in prison and said police will continue enforcing the law and prosecuting violators to the fullest extent.

{Matzav.com}