PA arrests Palestinian who fired on Israeli settlement

The Palestinian Authority (PA) arrested a Palestinian man who opened fire at the entrance of an illegal Israeli settlement called Bet El near the West Bank city of Ramallah, Safa news agency reported yesterday.

Citing Israeli TV Channel 7, Safa said that the Palestinian opened fire at the illegal Israeli settlement last week.

The Palestinian drove a car from the Palestinian refugee camp of Al-Jalazoon, came close to the Israeli settlement, opened fire at its entrance before fleeing the scene.

PA security services chased the Palestinian gunman and arrested him. It gave no more details about the operation, although there were no reported casualties or fatalities.

In such situations, the PA security services and the Israeli military cooperate and exchange information until they identify the perpetrator and either the PA or the Israeli military arrest him.

However, when Israeli settlers open fire at Palestinian homes, the Israeli military does not act unless it is a fatal incident such as what happened to the Dawabsheh family two years ago when a settler set their home ablaze and caused the death of a child and his parents.

In such circumstances, the PA has no jurisdiction to act, and must defer to Israeli authorities.