An IDF force operating jointly with the Shin Bet in Nablus arrested Sunday four Fatah
operatives on suspicion that they were planning to commit a terror attack in Israel,
Palestinian security sources told Ynet. The IDF confirmed the report.
An army statement said that a force comprised of soldiers from the Kfir Brigade and the elite Duvdevan unit worked with Shin Bet officers to take the suspects in for questioning. Three explosive devices were found in their possession.
The Palestinian security sources told Ynet that they had been surprised by an Israeli drone whose flyover had not been announced ahead of time, though arrests were generally coordinated with the Palestinian Authority.
"The Israelis chose an interesting pattern of behavior," one source said. "In serious cases they come in themselves, and in cases defined as 'insignificant' phone calls or rumors that children are up to something they inform us."
Security officials said they expected Israel to hand them the information required to make the arrests themselves. "This is preferable to an Israeli operation in Palestinian territory," the source said.
Recently Fatah officials have begun to fear an Israeli retraction of the amnesty agreement with the PA, as well as setbacks in security cooperation. The fears are linked to suspicion in the PA that Hezbollah
operatives have infiltrated their ranks.
Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
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