2 Palestinians arrested in West Bank for Christmas tree arson
Suspects set fire to the tree in Zababdeh, a Christian-majority village near Jenin; are being investigated for ties to terror groups
Palestinian security forces said they arrested two suspected Islamic radicals in the burning of a Christmas tree in the northern West Bank.
A Palestinian security officer said Friday the suspects set fire Wednesday to the tree in Zababdeh, a Christian-majority village near Jenin. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn’t authorized to speak to reporters.
He said both suspects are under investigation for possible ties to extremist Islamist groups. He also said Palestinian security forces arrested about a dozen radical Islamists on Wednesday in Bethlehem.
Christians make up about 2 percent of the West Bank population.
Palestinian assailants attacked Israelis in three West Bank incidents Thursday as visitors flocked to Bethlehem for a subdued Christmas Eve. The attackers were shot and killed by Israeli security forces.
Copyright 2015 The Associated Press.