A United States official said one of the three teens kidnapped Thursday night in the West Bank is an American citizen. The boys, all 16 years old, went missing from a hitchhiking spot in the Gush Etzion area. One of the boys reportedly called the police saying they had been kidnapped, prompting a search effort from Israeli soldiers.
The Associated Press reports that the official spoke on the condition of anonymity since they weren't allowed to publicly brief the media. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu believes the Palestinian Authority was behind the kidnapping, but he didn't elaborate. No one has yet claimed responsibility.