JERUSALEM, January 26, 2011 (WAFA) - Israeli police announced Wednesday that it had arrested a number of Palestinians on charges that include killing of an American tourist and possibly an Israeli, in addition to other criminal charges.

The group allegedly consists of 13 Palestinians and their arrest began shortly after the killing of the American tourist in December, according to the police report. 

The Palestinians allegedly confessed they worked on their own initiative and carried out few military operations to avenge the assassination of Hamas official Mahmoud Al Mabhouh.

They were charged of carrying out operations inside Israel and the Palestinian Territory. They are also suspected in other cases of robbery, breaking and entering, stealing weapons and rape causing the police to believe they started as criminals then shifted to security activity. 

M.H.