Bethlehem – Ma'an – The Israeli general intelligence service Shin Bet recently started a campaign to search for illegal weapons posessed by settlers in the Hebron area in the southern West Bank, according to news reports.

The Hebrew-language newspaper Ma'ariv reported on Monday that Israeli police and army units were both participating in the campaign, which was described as ongoing after several failed attempts.

According to the report, extremist settler groups possess illegal weapons that they frequently use against local Palestinians. In 2001, Israeli police investigated some settlers over the murder of a Palestinian man near Susa settlement inside Hebron. Three settlers from Hagai in Hebron were arrested, but later set free after police failed to prove they were involved.

Ma'ariv added that since that incident, the Shin Bet has been searching for weapons in the settlements, and that a month and a half ago, the intelligence service received information that there were illegal weapons in Hagai settlement. Police and army forces along with Shin Bet agents stormed the settlement for inspection, but found no weapons.

Recently, an investigation into the 2001 murder was reopened after the main suspect returned from the United States two months ago. According to Ma'ariv, he was arrested at the airport and interrogated before again being released for lack of evidence.