IDF arrests two Palestinians carrying M-16

Border Police officers arrested two Palestinians Saturday evening after a search of their vehicle yielded a concealed M-16 rifle.

The two Palestinian men, both in their 20s from the town of al-Bira, outside Ramallah, were searched at the Tapuah Junction checkpoint The policemen found a bullet beneath the rear seat, Ynet reported, and one of the two men attempted to flee the scene.

After warning shots were fired in the air, the man was apprehended. The two were taking in for questioning.

Earlier in the day, IDF soldiers arrested two Palestinian men who approached them suspiciously near the village of Burin, south of the West Bank city of Nablus.

The two suspects were both armed with knives, and were detained on suspicion of attempting to stab the soldiers, Israel Radio reported. They were taken in for interrogation by Israeli security forces.

Israel has witnessed a string of stabbing attacks in recent weeks that have left multiple civilians injured. Last week’s attack at a West Bank supermarket left two Israelis wounded, and their suspected Palestinian assailant was shot and injured by the security guard.

Earlier in the day, at least three rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip out to sea in an apparent weapons test by Hamas, Ynet cited Palestinian reports saying. Similar tests were conducted Thursday and Friday as well, the report said.

A pipe-bomb was also thrown at an IDF post near the West Bank city of Jenin. No injuries or damage were reported.