Woman caught trying to smuggle armed Palestinian from West Bank into Israel

Defense Ministry officers arrest an Israeli woman who was caught trying to smuggle a Palestinian man and an unlicensed pistol out of the West Bank in her car, officials say.

While attempting to drive through the Reihan Crossing in the northern West Bank, the woman was stopped by security officials, who were acting on a tip, police say.

She was asked to open the trunk of her car for inspection, but initially refused, claiming the latch was broken. A security officer opened the trunk despite her objections, finding inside the 37-year-old Palestinian man from the town of Zabada, near Jenin, according to the Defense Ministry, which runs the crossing.

הבודקים הביטחוניים של רשות המעברים במשרד הביטחון במעבר ריחן סיכלו היום ניסיון הברחה שב"ח פלסטיני ואקדח ללא רישיון לתוך שטח מדינת ישראל. pic.twitter.com/2kmPAekGTl

— משרד הביטחון (@MoDIsrael) April 8, 2019

A further search of the woman’s car uncovered a loaded pistol, which the woman had without the proper permit, police say.

According to police, the gun appears to have been stolen from a security guard for the Israel Nature and Parks Authority.

The woman, a resident of Gan Hashomron in central Israel, and the Palestinian man have been placed under arrest.

— Judah Ari Gross