Palestinian arrested for allegedly planning shooting attack on Israeli soldiers

Israeli security forces arrested overnight Tuesday a Palestinian man who allegedly planned a shooting attack on soldiers, the Israeli army said Wednesday.

The man, identified as 27-year-old Ahmed Abu Rub, has ties with the Islamic Jihad movement in the Gaza Strip, was arrested in a joint operation of the Israeli military, Shin Bet security service and the police, according to a statement by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).

"Ahmed Abu Rub was involved in the planning of a shooting attack at an IDF crossing near the community of Mevo Dotan, southwest of Jenin," the IDF said in the statement.

Israel and the Palestinians have been mired in a fresh wave of violence since October 2015, which killed 34 Israelis and 220 Palestinians.

The Israeli victims were killed in stabbing, shooting and car-ramming attacks. Some of the Palestinian victims died in clashes with Israeli security forces during protests, while others were gunned down after allegedly carrying out or trying to carry out attacks against Israelis.

Israeli leaders accuse the Palestinian National Authority of inciting violence, whereas the Palestinians say the unrest is the result of 49 years of Israeli occupation of the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip territories, where they wish to establish an independent state. Endit