Palestinians in military garb try entering Jewish community in Samaria

Soldiers nabbed a Palestinian wearing military fatigues near the entrance to Itamar. A search for a second suspect continues.

By Margot Dudkevitch, World Israel News

After being alerted of a possible infiltration into the Israeli community of Itamar in Samaria, IDF soldiers arrested a Palestinian wearing military fatigues Sunday evening.

A military surveillance post spotted two Palestinians heading towards a back entrance to the community and raised the alarm. Soldiers deployed to the site began searching for the suspects and called on residents to remain inside their homes as a precaution.

One of the suspects was caught by soldiers unarmed and carrying binoculars. Security forces are searching for the second suspect, who is believed to have fled towards Beit Furik, a nearby Palestinian town. An IDF spokesman said that according to initial findings, neither one succeeded in entering the community.

The Itamar Emergency Committee put out a statement saying that the possibility that the two suspects are hunters, and not terrorists, cannot be ruled out.

Since the drive-by shooting and murder earlier this month of Rabbi Raziel Shevach, 35, who was gunned down while driving to his home at the Gilad Farm, IDF forces have maintained a heightened presence in Judea and Samaria.