Man arrested on suspicion of 'price tag' offense
Tzvi Sukkot was detained by security forces after being brought to a police station to provide testimony on an alleged kidnapping he claimed to have witnessed being carried out by Palestinians.
According to Sukkot he witnessed what he thought was a kidnapping and alerted the police and IDF before following the car until it entered Nablus.
Shortly thereafter, Shin Bet officials and police approached Sukkot and asked him to provide witness testimony about the alleged incident. Sukkot agreed and accompanied officers to a police station where he was informed that he was being detained on suspicion of committing a "price tag" incident.
In an interview with Ynet, Sukkot described the feeling of insult from police, saying, "It's impossible to describe the intensity of the insult when a police officer asks you accompany him to a police station to provide testimony only to be told you're a suspect.
"I called them to the scene and they claimed they were collecting evidence—and they were using me. I expect the police not to take advantage of good citizenry because of paranoia over hilltop youth."
Sukkot's attorney also responded to the incident. "Sukkot was being a good citizen and instead of receiving a medal, he was arrested," he said. "Apparently there are those in the police who would blame him automatically instead of seeing a good citizen who witnessed a kidnapping before his eyes."
In response, the police issued a statement of their own. "Any attempt to link the report filed to the IDF and the police detaining Sukkot is wrong. Police detained Sukkot after suspicions arose that he was involved in a 'price tag' attack. Leaflets and spray paint were found in his car, but he was released shortly thereafter," the statement read.
Police added that due to the high rate of "price tag" incidents in the area, they would be stepping up efforts to halt violence on both sides.
