16 Palestinians held for hurling rocks, firebombs at West Bank road

Israeli security forces in recent weeks arrested 16 Palestinian terror suspects, including several minors, from the West Bank village of Khirbat al-Misbah, for hurling rocks and Molotov cocktails at passing motorists on a major Jerusalem-Tel Aviv highway.

According to a statement released Wednesday by the Shin Bet security service, the suspects were involved in a number of attacks that caused damage to vehicles on Route 443, a highway that runs adjacent to the Palestinian village. None of the suspects were linked to terror organizations, the Shin Bet said.

The arrests were made by the Shin Bet in conjunction with the army and police.

The security service said that two of the suspects, Saheeb Yousif Mesleh and Balal Abed Kasbah, admitted to organizing a number of Molotov cocktail attacks on Israeli motorists.

The other suspects were not named, but the Shin Bet said several of the detainees had been previously arrested for similar activities and for attacking IDF forces near Khirbat al-Misbah.

A number of the detainees were minors, and the security service’s statement noted the increasing involvement of Palestinian youths in low-level terror attacks against Israeli civilians.

Indictments were brought against several suspects, and the security service has asked the Judea Military Court to remand them until the end of the legal proceedings.

Israeli forces have been attempting crack down on rock throwers amid a series of near-daily violent incidents in Jerusalem and the West Bank in the past several months, sparked over tensions surrounding the Temple Mount. At least 25 Israelis have been killed in the violence; more than 100 Palestinians have also died, most while carrying out or attempting to carry out attacks.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.