Israeli police find body of missing U.S. student

Officials have confirmed that the body of 23-year-old Jewish seminary student Aaron Sofer has been found in a forest near Jerusalem.

Sofer had been hiking in the forest south of city with a friend. The two then lost contact with each other.

Police spokesman Mickey Rosenfeld says the circumstances of Sofer's death remain unclear.

(SOUNDBITE) (English) POLICE SPOKESPERSON MICKEY ROSENFELD, SAYING:

"Obviously there's an investigation taking place at this moment in time to see what the background of the incident was. If the student fell and went missing or if it's a murder case. The forensics and the different police units are still in and around the area, the area has been closed off and the investigation is continuing."

Police, volunteers and Sofer's New Jersey family had spent six days combing the area, which spans 310 acres, or roughly 125 hectares.

In June, three Israeli seminary students, all teenagers, were kidnapped while hitchhiking in the occup