The shells theft case in an army base was first disclosed by Walla!news after an inspection of the Military Police revealed that more than 3,000 shells were stolen and soldiers may be involved. A senior military source in the Southern Command said that "Even today you cannot exclude the possibility that the number of shells and ammunition stolen from the base will increase." The "Israeli" army estimates that the value of the theft exceeds 15 million dollars but stresses that the case is dangerous since it is easy to steal and until now thousands of shells of various types of ammunition have been stolen and damaged the IDF arsenal.

The shells theft was discovered more than a month ago after the army received from the "Israel" Police intelligence information about a systematic theft of various shells in an army base in Naqab (Negev). The information was transferred to the army that located the base and began examining the issue. At first they thought that the theft concerned 1,500 shells but in recent days it became clear that the number had risen to more than 3,000 of armor shells designed for emergencies and trainings. Due to the severity of the incident it was decided that the "Israeli" army and "Israel" Police will combine forces and try to locate those responsible for stealing the shells. A senior military source said that the shell is estimated to cost an amount ranging from 1,000 to 6,000 dollars.

The army estimates that those behind the theft are a bunch of minorities who are specialized in stealing metals. The military estimated that the shells can be sold to metal dealers after breaking down the shell and at worst the shells are being sold to "terrorists". Yesterday there was a development in the case after a forensic mobile lab of the "Israeli" police arrived at the base in the Negev to collect fingerprints and information to support the investigation. "Border mobile labs of the National Headquarters include a number of experts in collecting and finding evidence at crime scenes. We hope that their efforts will lead to further development "an army official said.

The army did not rule out the possibility that the gangs are getting through the fence with the help of military officials in the sector. The army spokesman said in response that "the issue is a Military Police investigation and the results will be filed to the military court to be discussed and ruled."

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"Israeli" soldiers left alone in a Palestinian village

Ynet - Yossi Yehoshua

Details of incident in which soldier was left behind in Budrus during operational activity are revealed; the soldier was escorted by residents out of the village and handed to his command.

Yesterday evening, a convoy of armored jeeps entered the village. According to Aida Marar, a Palestinian citizen for Budrus, the troops went into the village searching for stone throwers.

"An hour later, the operation ended and the unit departed a lone soldier who was left standing at the gate of the village," Aida added. A group of locals approached him and asked him, " the convoy left the village, why are you still here?" the soldier scoffed at them and asked them to keep a distance. The residents didn't depart and told him that they are serious. "The convoy left the village and left you stranded." At this point, the soldier was sure he was left alone. "The residents asked him not to be afraid for "we will help you."

A group of locals escorted him to the separation wall outside the village. Then an officer and a soldier picked him up, thanked the locals and returned to their base."

An investigation conducted by the Judea and Samaria Division indicates that the Palestinians informed the soldier that he was alone and might get hurt by some residents. The brigade's command knew that one of its soldiers is missing when it received the investigation report. When the commander ordered to count the number of soldiers, he realized that one soldier was forgotten in the village, so he sent a patrol to bring him back.

The villagers clarified that they helped the soldiers and themselves, for if "the soldier was hurt -even slightly- the "Israeli" army would demolish our village."

"From an initial investigation he was separated from his unit on Wednesday night but the rest of the matter is under investigation," an army spokesperson said. It's worth mentioning that five years ago a Golani soldier was left in Gaza after he slept deeply then was discovered after he shot some bullets to the sky.

Source: Hebrew Newspapers, Translated by moqawama.org