Air force scrambles in false alarm on Jordan border

Low-flying civilian plane nears Israel airspace but then returns; Palestinian arrested after crossing Gaza border into Israel

The Air Force scrambled two fighter aircraft near the border with Jordan on Wednesday when a low-flying Jordanian plane approached close to the border, the army said.

Once the military realized it was a civilian light aircraft and there was no danger that it would cross the border, the planes returned to base.

Earlier on Wednesday security forces detained a Palestinian man after he crossed the border fence from the Gaza Strip into Israeli territory, the army said.

The man was apprehended shortly after crossing near the northern end of the Palestinian coastal enclave.

He was taken away for questioning by security forces, but did not appear to be armed.