Police Prevent Terror Attack near Jerusalem

JERUSALEM, Israel -- Israeli Border Police prevented a terror attack Wednesday by detaining an Arab man carrying an ax under his clothing.

The suspect, a 29-year-old resident of Bethlehem, admitted during questioning he was planning to attack an Israeli soldier in Jerusalem.

Israeli media said the attack took place near Beit Jala just outside Bethlehem.

Beit Jala used to be home to a fairly large Arab Christian population. Like Bethlehem, many Israeli left Bethlehem and Beit Jala due in large part to persecution by their Muslim Arab neighbors.