The soldiers took a wrong turn into Palestinian territory, the army said. West Bank roads are not clearly marked, and such wrong turns are not unusual. In June, four Israeli buses headed for a settlement turned into Kalandiya refugee camp and were torched. Army officials said the men were not stopped when they unwittingly passed through a Palestinian roadblock. The roadblock is frequently unmanned.
Reservists usually receive their uniforms only once they register at their base.
The army said a crowd of Palestinians identified them as Israelis and chased them. The car made a U-turn, and headed for a Palestinian police station they had just passed, near Manara Square in central Ramallah. The Israelis ran inside the police station, seeking shelter. Police said they were contacting Israelis to come pick up the men the mob attacked. Word got out that the Palestinian police were holding several Israeli soldiers.