A 19-year-old soldier waiting for a ride in the Kiryat Shmona area was attacked by two Arabs on Thursday, who managed to flee with his military-issued automatic weapon.

According to joint statements released by military and Israel Police investigators, a vehicle stopped at the hitchhiking post where the soldier was standing at about 8:30pm, and two people came out and approached him. They began beating him, grabbed his M-16 and fled.

The soldier was transported by an MDA ambulance to Ziff Hospital in Tzfas, but was later transported to Rambam Medical Center in Haifa, fearing he is suffering internal cranial bleeding.

A large police and military force began a manhunt for the perpetrators, assisted by a helicopter. They were unsuccessfully unfortunately.

Authorities believe the incident was criminal and not terror, explaining if chas v’sholom is was terrorism, they would have attempted to abduct the soldier as well.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)