For 53-year-old Y’, her vacation to Bulgaria will be an unforgettable event after spending a number of days in prison. This due to the fact that authorities found bullets in her backpack. They were forgotten in the bag by her daughter, an IDF soldier.

Y’ was at the airport, heading home, when she was placed in custody after her bag was x-rated and bullets were viewed inside. She was detained for three days, released, and compelled to remain in the country for an additional three days. Israeli consular officials became involved early into the incident. On Tuesday she stood before a local court. She was fined and sentenced to 8 months probation. After her appearance in court she left the country.

Foreign Ministry officials explain such instances are not at all rare since many Israelis are detained and arrested around the world for the very same offense, forgetting to properly inspect their bags prior to departure. Officials stress that one should carefully pack, inspecting each bag, especially bags borrowed from family members, especially bags from soldiers and IDF reservists.

Since January 1, 2009, five Israelis were arrested for the same offence including a Gush Etzion resident who was arrested in Bombay two months ago and incarcerated for a week after a handgun magazine was found in his bag. He was released to house arrest and he is still in Bombay, awaiting trial. A month earlier, a young man who just completed reserve duty serve was arrested when bullets were found in his bag. He too remains in India, awaiting trial as well.

A soldier in active service was arrested in a European airport two months ago but the swift intervention of consular and Foreign Ministry officials prevented criminal charges and the soldier was released on the same day.

Another reservist was arrested in a Bulgarian airport a number of months ago. He too just completed reserve duty. He was imprisoned for a number of days and consular intervention led to an expeditious legal process after which he returned home.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)