The police action in Yishuv Yitzhar in Shomron on Thursday is related to what authorities report is the firing of a Kassam rocket from the yishuv into a nearby Arab village two weeks ago. Rav Itzik Shapira, the rosh yeshiva of the community’s Od Yosef Chai Yeshiva was taken into custody and questioned.

The rocket apparently landed in an agricultural field between Yitzhar and the Arab village, in proximity to a Breslov chossid who was davening in the field.

IDF troops immediately responded to the explosion, fearing a terrorist attack. The investigation led them to the understanding that the blast emanated from Yitzhar, which was first believed targeted in some type of attack.

According to a Chadrei Chadarim report, the rosh yeshiva, upon understanding a student built and fired a rocket, immediately suspended him from yeshiva.

After gathering intelligence information, police on Thursday raided Yitzhar and detained Rav Itzik Shapira and two others, who were taken to a nearby military base and questioned by ISA (Israel Security Agency – Shin Bet) agents. After a number of hours they were released after determining they were uninvolved in the case.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)