IDF soldier illegally enters Bethlehem for the second time in a week
By REBECCA ANNA STOIL
For the second time in just over a week, Palestinian security forces apprehended an off-duty IDF soldier who had entered Bethlehem armed with his service-issue M-16 rifle Sunday.
The soldier, who was handed over to IDF DCO representatives, said that he and a civilian had entered the Area A city -which is under full Palestinian security control, in order to fix his vehicle.
Entering Area A is illegal for Israeli citizens, and the soldier is likely to find himself facing a military police investigation and even a jail sentence.
Only last week, three Israelis, including an off-duty IDF soldier armed with his service-issue M-16 were arrested by Palestinian Authority police after they entered the Judean city, allegedly to view the Christmas tree on display at the Church of the Nativity.
One day later, after a disciplinary hearing, the 19-year-old solider was sentenced to 28 days in an IDF lockup.