Three Israelis Flee Arab Village After Drug-Fueled Panic Attack

Three Israeli Jews, including two teenagers, were found by police and military forces near the Arab village of Hizme, east of Jerusalem, after one of them called emergency services claiming they were being kidnapped. The call, made by a 15-year-old boy, described two Arabs forcing them into a house and urged immediate police intervention. "Faster, we're in a car," the caller told the operator, adding, "In an Arab car. With Arabs. With Palestinians. Send a patrol." He also stated, "We went to buy cigarettes. Where are you? Hurry, they are dragging us to some strange place."

Responding to the distress call, security forces tracked the phone's location to an area near Hizme. Upon arrival, they discovered a car containing the three individuals: two 15-year-old boys and a 40-year-old man, all residents of the Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood in Jerusalem. All three appeared to be in an agitated state, reportedly due to drug use, and no Arabs or houses were found in their vicinity.

During questioning at the police station, it emerged that the group had driven to Hizme, an area outside Israel's pre-1967 borders, possibly to purchase cigarettes or hashish. However, en route, they became fearful of their actions and imagined they were about to be kidnapped and killed. This led to the false emergency call.

All three were issued a report for making a false alarm and for entering an area prohibited to Israeli citizens. They were subsequently released under restrictive conditions, and police intend to pursue the case.