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IDF arrests Palestinian armed with knife, tear gas near Nablus

Israel’s national electric company says it has begun reducing power supplies to Palestinian areas in Judea and Samaria due a financial dispute with the Palestinians’ main power distributor.

A knife found on a Palestinian suspect arrested by the Israeli military on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. Credit: IDF Spokesperson.
A knife found on a Palestinian suspect arrested by the Israeli military on Saturday, Sept. 21, 2019. Credit: IDF Spokesperson.

The Israel Defense Forces captured a Palestinian man near Beit Furik near Nablus in Judea and Samaria who was carrying a knife and tear gas, an IDF spokesman reported on Saturday.

The suspect was transferred to security forces for questioning, according to the report.

Separately, Israel’s national electric company announced on Sunday that it had begun reducing the supply of electricity to Palestinian areas in Judea and Samaria due to a financial dispute, Ynet reported on Sunday.

According to the Israel Electric Co., it took the step because the Jerusalem District Electricity Co., the Palestinians’ main power distributor, owes it roughly $485 million.

Ali Hamodeh, an official with the Palestinian distributor, says power is expected to be cut for two hours daily in several Palestinian towns in the coming weeks.

He accused Israel of “exaggerating” the debt and called the power cuts a “political exploit.”

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