On Monday afternoon security forces arrested seven Palestinian Authority Arabs, including a woman, who may have been planning to disguise themselves as religious Jews in order to carry out a terrorist attack.
Police set up checkpoints in both directions on Highway 1 connecting Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, causing mammoth traffic jams. Police located the Arabs in a rented car which also contained a kippah (Jewish head covering) and tzitzit (a fringed garment worn by observant Jews).
Five of the terror suspects had crossed the separation barrier without work permits, and two others were from eastern Jerusalem. Police have not yet concluded if the suspects plotted to strike and have not yet determined why the woman was hiding religious articles.
Terrorist cells within the PA have recently threatened to attack Israeli citizens and soldiers. Israeli security forces have continued to arrest wanted terrorists during nighttime counterterrorist operations in Judea and Samaria despite Roadmap demands that the Palestinian Authority halt all terror and incitement.
Twelve wanted terrorists were arrested Sunday night and early Monday morning, including two in Shechem, one of the first cities where armed PA security forces were deployed.
The U.S. government has credited the PA security forces, which have been trained by American army officers at a base built with American funds, with improving security in Judea and Samaria.