Palestinian Authority forces uncovered 17 explosive devices in northern Samaria and transferred them to the IDF Sunday. Most of the charges were pipe bombs.
Military sappers detonated the explosives in a controlled manner. There was no information about the place and circumstances in which the explosives were found, except that they had been discovered near Tul Karem.
The move by the PA forces “indicates a positive cooperation between the Palestinian security apparatus and the Israeli security forces,” the IDF Spokesman's website wrote.
The website reported that although there is currently “relative calm” in Judea and Samaria, terrorist attempts by Hamas as well as Lebanese militia Hizbullah continue there. A senior IDF source explained that while Hamas does not want to reopen the Gaza front with Israel and Hizbullah does not want to reopen the Lebanese front, both groups apparently feel more fee to try and create mayhem in Judea and Samaria, with less danger of IDF retaliation against them.
Earlier this month, PA forces transferred to the IDF a large explosive device weighing 12 kilograms that had been attached to a gas canister in Jenin. The IDF forces detonated the explosive in a controlled manner, causing no casualties or damage.
PA security forces are being trained by Lt.-General Keith Dayton, US Security Coordinator for Israel and the Palestinian Authority, in the hope that they will eventually take over parts of the PA that are vacated by Israel, if and when a peace treaty is signed. However, Dayton himself has hinted that if peace is not achieved, the same forces could wind up attacking Israel.