Border Police officers arrested seven Palestinians who were in Israel without permits at a-Za’ayyem crossing after a vehicle carrying the group raised their suspicions.
During the inspection, officers discovered that the driver, who was also in Israel without a permit, had grown peyot (sidelocks) and was wearing a kippah and traditional haredi (ultra-Orthodox) clothing.
The arrests took place during a Border Police operation on Thursday near Jerusalem, where officers spotted the suspicious vehicle and instructed the driver to pull over.
A search of the vehicle revealed six passengers who lacked permits to stay in Israel. A check of the driver’s identification showed that he, too, was in the country without authorization.
Authorities suspect that the driver had adopted a haredi appearance to blend into the ultra-Orthodox community, hoping to pass through the crossing without attracting the attention of security personnel.
Seven Palestinians arrested, vehicle seized over illegal modifications
Further inspection revealed that the vehicle had previously been taken off the road and was also being driven illegally. The car was also found to have had its license plates replaced.
Authorities took the seven suspects, residents of the Hebron and Tulkarm areas, into custody and transferred them to the Investigations and Intelligence Division of the Jerusalem Perimeter Border Police for further questioning.
The vehicle was towed and transferred for confiscation proceedings.