JERUSALEM, Aug. 4 (UPI) -- Israeli Arabs in a district near the West Bank say their homes were searched without warrants by Israeli police looking for illegal Palestinian workers.
Residents in a neighborhood of Umm al-Fahm adjacent to the West Bank fence told the Ha'aretz newspaper they were roused by gunshots early Friday and that the searches went on until noon. Police were quoted as saying the Israel Defense Force was responsible for the searches but the IDF did not immediately comment.
Border police said they were looking for Palestinian workers illegally staying in Israel.
In one instance, a resident said officers ordered children at gunpoint not to enter their home.
"I was convinced that I live in a democratic state. I told the policemen that perhaps they forgot that they are in the State of Israel. How dare they enter houses without showing warrants? Why do my children need to see such things?" the resident asked.
