Two frightened Palestinians, escaping from a Palestinian hit squad, sought refuge and found it in the Israeli community of Beit Aryeh, in Samaria last night.
They told of a group of Palestinian security officers who were chasing them with the intent of killing them.
Regional Council Head Avi Naim immediately alerted the Israeli security forces. They searched the two for weapons, eliminating the possibility that this was a ploy to execute an attack, and, once cleared, they were offered shelter.
Israeli security forces continued to search for the hit squad. They encountered four Palestinians who presented themselves as members of a Special Forces unit. A search revealed a loaded weapon, which constitutes a breach of the peace accords with Israel, prohibiting Palestinian security forces from carrying weapons in an Israeli controlled zone.
Naim says that this was the first time he has encountered such bizarre circumstances. “We have gotten used to providing support to the Palestinians, but this is the first time we have encountered such an incident. Palestinians being chased by the Palestinian security forces, taking cover in a nearby Jewish community – I hope this is not a sign of a new developing reality in Judea and Samaria. Livni and Kerry – you have been warned.”
Naim pointed out that Beit Aryeh is located near the village of Luban, and that the relations between the two communities are good. “We invite each other to communal events. We are interested in good neighborly relations with everyone.”