IDF Says No Soldier Missing; Returns to Normal Operations

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By: Maayana Miskin

After massive traffic jams throughout central Israel and Jerusalem on Thursday due to roadblocks set up in search for a missing soldier, the IDF says that all soldiers are accounted for and has returned to normal operations.

Traffic was particularly heavy on Highway 443, at the entrance to Petach Tikva, near Maaleh Adumim, and between the cities of Jerusalem and Modiin.

The backup was caused by temporary checkpoints throughout the area. Drivers reported seeing an unusually large number of police vehicles throughout the afternoon.

It was later revealed that police feared a soldier was kidnapped in the Tel Aviv area. A soldier reported that she witnessed a male soldier being beaten and forced into a car.

Police stopped traffic from the Central District into Samaria, while simultaneously investigating the initial report.

The IDF enacted its emergency roll call procedure, in order to account for all soldiers and active reservists.

A police helicopter circled over the Tel Aviv area throughout the day. In the afternoon, police confirmed that security-related operations were taking place in the Central District, but did not give details.

Police occasionally set up makeshift checkpoints along major Israeli roads in response to terrorist alerts or other security threats. However, checkpoints are usually set up to check vehicles traveling from Samaria to the Tel Aviv area, and not those moving in the opposite direction.