Kidnappings create wave of fear

JERUSALEM -- A month into the cease-fire declared by Palestinian terrorist groups, the fear of suicide bombers has been replaced by fear of kidnappers.

The Israel Defense Forces repeatedly has warned soldiers not to hitchhike, young lovers to avoid isolated places and parents to think twice before letting their children out at night.

As for protecting government officials, the security belt around Cabinet ministers is as tight as ever.

Concern has intensified following the abduction last month of taxi driver Eliahu Gurel -- who was rescued from Ramallah in an operation by IDF commandos -- and the murder of soldier Oleg Sheichat, who was abducted in the Galilee.

This week, authorities were searching for two missing teenagers: Dana Bennet, 18, a waitress from Tiberias, who disappeared July 31, and a 19-year-old American yeshiva student studying in Jerusalem, who disappeared Sunday.

The security forces often have warned that terrorists might try to kidnap Israeli soldiers and civilians in order to try to trade them as pawns for large numbers of Palestinian prisoners held in Israel.

The impasse over peace negotiations has increased frustration and rage among families of Palestinian terrorists and among Israeli Arabs, creating the motivation for kidnappings, security officials warn.

However, in the cases of Gurel and Sheichat, the kidnappers did not seriously try to negotiate a deal for Palestinian prisoners.

In the case of Gurel, the kidnappers demanded the release of prisoners but soon reverted to demanding ransom -- and eventually got nothing.

In the case of Sheichat, no contact was made between kidnappers and authorities-- probably because the kidnappers killed the soldier shortly after abducting him.

In the case of Bennet, police say they're in the dark about her fate.