Armed Israeli youths confront Palestinian police in Salfit near Tulkarm

An Israeli vehicle carrying hilltop youths entered the West Bank town of Salfit, near Tulkarm, last Thursday and drove all the way to the local Palestinian police station, apparently en route to an illegal outpost in the area that has been evacuated several times before. The reason for the detour into Salfit is unclear.

At the station, the group clashed with Palestinian police. According to a security source, at least one of the youths was armed with an M16 rifle and pointed it at the officers, who in turn aimed their weapons at the Israelis in the car.

The incident ended without injuries, but Israeli security officials say it could easily have become a major disaster. One senior security official said, "This highlights the danger of a group of people acting like rioters and doing whatever they want. There is no law and no judge. This incident could have ended in a heavy tragedy."