Israel said on Wednesday it had thwarted a bombing attack on the 70th anniversary of the country’s foundation.
Defense Minister Avigor Lieberman said: “We thwarted a huge attack that was set to take place on Independence Day … We will hunt those who plotted to target on our holiday.”
The Defense Ministry said guards at the Reihan checkpoint in the northern West Bank found a "powerful explosive device" hidden in the roof of a Palestinian truck loaded with other goods.
The driver of the truck, Ibrahim Ahmed Ali Zeid, was arrested.
The official in charge of border crossings at the Defense Ministry, Erez Tzidon, praised the guards for "identifying the suspect and the smuggling attempt which turned out to be an explosive, most likely intended for an Independence Day attack."
On Thursday, Israel marked the 70th anniversary of the founding of the state amid tight security measures that included a lock-down on the West Bank and the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli army said it has thrown a security dragnet around the West Bank and closed border crossings with Gaza until dawn Friday.
