Palestinian sources confirmed Sunday that Palestinian Authority security forces were conducting searches for
a missing Israeli cab driver in Ramallah area. Israeli security forces have been conducting searches in the vicinity of the West Bank city since Saturday night.
The army used helicopters, trackers, dogs, and set up spot roadblocks in the effort to find the missing cabbie.
The driver's family said they received a phone call late Saturday night from a man, who claimed that the cabbie, who has been missing since Friday afternoon, would not be harmed. The phone call was traced to Ramallah.
The 61 year-old driver did not return home on Friday evening after taking passengers from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. On Saturday morning, he contacted his daughter, managed to say "I'm alright" and then the call was disconnected. This appears to support the Israeli police and security forces' assumption that he was abducted and is being held in the West Bank, northwest of Ramallah.
His cab was later found abandoned, with the engine running, in the village Beit Hanina, north of Jerusalem. There were no indications of struggle or blood in the vehicle. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
