Checkpoint (illustrative)
Checkpoint (illustrative)Flash 90

An Arab motorist crashed into a border police checkpoint Saturday night at the entrance to Beit Ummar in Judea's Gush Etzion district, north of Hevron.

Four border police were manning the checkpoint at the time, and were injured by the speeding car. All four were evacuated for medical treatment for their light wounds at the Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem.

The Arab driver was arrested; under interrogation he claimed to have stepped on the gas pedal by mistake, saying he didn't intend to injure the soldiers. But after initially ruling out terrorism, in the last few minutes investigators revealed that the vehicle he was driving was stolen, and that they now suspect terrorism as the motive.

Arab residents of Beit Ummar twice last year flew massive Nazi flags over a major road where Jews pass in their vehicles. Israeli drivers have also been injured by rock attacks in the area.