Armed Hilltop Youth Enter Palestinian Town Near Tulkarm, Face Police at Station

A car carrying armed Israeli hilltop youths entered the West Bank town of Salfit, near Tulkarm, last Thursday and reached the local Palestinian police station for reasons that remain unclear. The incident ended without injuries, but security officials said it could easily have turned into a major disaster.

According to the report, the youths were on their way to an illegal outpost in the area that has been evacuated several times before. Instead, they drove into Salfit and came to the police station, where they confronted Palestinian officers.

A security source said at least one of the youths was carrying an M16 rifle. During the confrontation, he aimed the weapon at the Palestinian police, who in turn pointed their guns back at the Israelis in the vehicle.

A senior security official said the episode shows the danger posed by a group that acts violently and does whatever it wants. “There is no law and no judge,” the official said. “This event could have ended in a heavy disaster.”