Six Palestinian militants jailed in the West Bank city of Bethlehem escaped today after their families attacked and took control of the prison, Palestinian security sources said.
They said Palestinian police put up some resistance but up to 70 people, including family members, stormed the prison where the six men were jailed some months ago when the Palestinian Authority came under international pressure to crush militants.
The men belonged to an armed group which is linked to President Yasser Arafat's Fatah faction, and to the Muslim militant group Islamic Jihad. The Palestinian groups are responsible for attacks which have killed scores of Israelis.
Mr Arafat launched a campaign to crack down on militants in December, under pressure from the US and Israeli after a series of suicide attacks in Israel.
Israel dismissed the scores of arrests as a sham intended to mollify the United States.
An Israeli government spokesman blamed the Palestinian Authority for the jail break. "I expect it's part of their 'revolving-door' policy on jailing militants", said Mr Raanan Gissin.
"If they don't let them out themselves, then they let them get sprung".