The Cave of the Patriarchs. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

JNS.org– Israeli security forces thwarted a terrorist attack near the Cave of the Patriarchs in Hebron on Friday, arresting a 17-year-old Palestinian girl who admitted she was planning to attack the police stationed in the area.

The incident took place around 8 a.m., when the Palestinian teen arrived at a police checkpoint at the entrance to the site but refused to undergo the necessary security screening to enter the compound.

Border police stationed at the checkpoint, as well as police serving with the Judea and Samaria Subdistrict Police, who are also stationed there, warned the teen time and again that she had to follow procedure, when she suddenly pulled a knife out of her bag and tossed it to the ground.

Security forces immediately apprehended her and took her into custody. When questioned, she admitted she had sought to stab a policeman.

Also on Friday, the Jerusalem District Police, who are on high alert throughout the capital, decided to allow free access to Muslim worshipers seeking to visit the Temple Mount.

The police sometimes limit the age of worshipers visiting the holy site as a precautionary measure.