On Saturday evening, nearly 20 heavily armed Palestinian Authority security personnel arrived in their vehicles near the Jewish community of Adam, just north of Jerusalem and in the Binyamin region of Samaria, in pursuit of a wanted Arab criminal.

Uniformed P.A. policemen do not have the jurisdiction to carry out armed patrols or pursuits in Area C, under full Israeli military and municipal control, without prior coordination with the relevant IDF bodies, an Israeli security chief from one of the largest blocs of Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria (whose identity cannot be disclosed) explained to JNS.

The security official added that nevertheless, these types of incidents occur from time to time throughout Area C of Judea and Samaria, and that it’s a major problem. “Within seconds, they can turn their guns on us,” he said.