Missing Israeli feared kidnapped found alive in West Bank

Israeli soldiers search a car in the village of Beit Anun, West Bank, April 2, 2015. [Photo/IC]

JERUSALEM - Israeli officials said early Friday that an Israeli youth who was presumed to be kidnapped in the West Bank was found alive overnight, after he apparently fabricated his "abduction."

"Following extensive searches, initial indications of abduction were proven false," said a military spokesperson, adding that apparently "the entire plot was a planned prank."

The spokesperson said the youth was found alive near the settlement of Kiryat Arba, east of Hebron. Israel's Ynet news website added that the man was found with canned food and a sleeping bag.

There were no immediate details on what were the youth's motives for fabricating the story, but the police have opened an investigation against the man.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) announced on Thursday that it was conducting extensive searches near the village of Beit Anan in the Hebron area, following a police report on a suspected abduction of the Israeli citizen near.