jerusalem (jps) | A resident of the Western Galilee village of Abu Snan was detained this week over the illegal possession of weapons that were concealed in a cave at the Mount Meron nature reserve.
The man said that he was at the reserve to search for treasure that had been put there 25 years ago, but was arrested after inspectors spotted a permanent structure in the area, as well as signs of unlawful excavation.
According to the inspectors, this was not the first time that the man had settled in the nature reserve. They said that he had previously been removed.
Inspectors from the Parks Authority and the Antiques Authority, who went to the site accompanied by police, found the same man, this time accompanied by a youth. During a search of the area the inspectors discovered the felling of protected trees and a stone wall some 50 feet long.
Inside the cave, the inspectors found explosive materials, pipe bombs, a generator and tools. Eyewitnesses said that the explosive devices had been ready for use.
Police from the Carmiel district evacuated the area and removed the explosive devices.
The man said that he had been searching for treasure worth $50 million, which he said had been hidden by an Israel Defense Forces officer during the Lebanon War in the 1980s.