A senior IDF official quoted by Omedia said Thursday that several Arab teenagers from Palestinian Authority areas, particularly near Shechem, have pretended to pose a danger to soldiers in order to get themselves arrested.  Youths have approached checkpoints with knives and reported that they plan to stab a soldier, without even attempting to carry out an actual attack, he said.

An investigation showed that many youths had decided to get themselves sent to Israeli prison for financial reasons and in order to complete their high school education, the source explained.  While in prison, the teenagers receive free food and are able to study for their matriculation exams for free, he said.  In addition, the PA pays the teens NIS 1,000 a month while they are in prison.