An extensive account from within the Zafnat farm's circle details a version of events contradicting police claims in the ongoing case of farm owner Uriya Cohen, arrested two weeks ago after a stolen herd incident in Huwara. The account alleges police falsely denied the theft, ignored military coordination, and fabricated accusations of arson and unlawful entry. No official police response is included. The case has drawn political attention.
An advocate for Zafnat farm owner Uriya Cohen, who remains in police custody 15 days after his herd was stolen from near Huwara, published a detailed 8-point rebuttal Sunday evening challenging police and IDF spokesperson accounts.
The account alleges that while the IDF's original field report acknowledged a theft (possibly from open pasture near Huwara), the Military Advocate General's spokesperson later denied any theft occurred — a claim the farm calls a fabrication. According to the source, the army's tracker units found evidence supporting theft on the edge of Huwara.
The post further asserts that police ignored evidence of military coordination in the search, and that Cohen entered the village only at the request of a military officer to evacuate volunteers already inside. The version also claims police falsely accused Cohen of setting fire to vehicles, saying the burned cars were in a different part of Huwara hours later and that no fire department investigation was conducted.
The account notes that police alleged Cohen fired his weapon, wounding a Palestinian in the foot, but that the court was told no ballistic test could confirm the bullet came from Cohen's gun — and that soldiers also fired at the scene. The source states no Palestinians have been arrested for the incident or for the theft.
As The Zioneer reported previously, this case has drawn protests from Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan and MKs, who demand Cohen's release. One of the two original detainees was released to house arrest earlier this week; the case remains under court proceedings.
2 developments
- DevelopingSamaria District police allegedly pressuring to appeal farmer's house arrest release
- DevelopingFarm theft and assault in Samaria; Palestinian attackers target volunteers
- DevelopingWest Bank settlers retrieve stolen herd with military coordination; police hold herder in custody
- DevelopingDetention extended for two Samaria farmers after they retrieved stolen flock; lawyers say case weak
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