Police bust forger who made hundreds of fake Israeli documents

Israel Police overnight Monday raided a document forging laboratory in the West Bank which produced hundreds of counterfeit Israeli identity cards, work permits and entry permits.

The fake documents could be used by Palestinian residents of the West Bank to gain entry to Israel.

Police, together with the IDF, followed up on an intelligence lead and uncovered the lab in the village of Akraba, southeast of Nablus. A suspect, 32, was arrested and forces seized a laptop computer, a printer, raw materials, and fake documents.

The suspect admitted to printing hundreds of forged entry permits, work permits, Israeli identity cards and driving licenses that he sold for NIS 300 ($80) each.

Palestinian residents of the West Bank need entry and work permits to cross the Green Line into Israel for work. Holders of Israeli identity cards, issued to all Israeli citizens, are permitted to cross back and forth across between the West Bank and Israel without the need for additional permits.

Police said the suspect will be brought for a remand hearing to extend his detention.