The Israel Defense Forces Monday issued a warning urging Israelis to avoid hitchhiking if at all possible, citing a large number of alerts warning that terrorists were planning to kidnap civilians and soldiers.

On Sunday evening, Palestinians tried to kidnap a man at the Eli Junction, north of Ramallah, the army said. Suspicious of their intentions in asking him to ride with them, the man refused to enter their car.

"There are many alerts for kidnappings of civilians and soldiers, therefore the IDF calls on civilians to behave responsibly and to avoid hitching rides if at all possible," the army spokesman's office said in a statement.

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The incident occurred at about 6:30 P.M., while the man was waiting for a ride at a bus stop. Immediately afterward, he called the IDF to report that Palestinians had tried to force him into their car, but he escaped.

Not long after that, Border Policemen stopped a red Fiat which matched the description given by the man, at a roadblock south of Eli. Inside, they found three Palestinians, two pistols and a large quantity of ammunition. The three were therefore arrested.

A kidnapping attempt was also reported by hitchhikers waiting at the Tapuah Junction, north of Eli. However, the hitchhikers became suspicious and fled after the car's occupants, who were dressed as Jews, said they had space for only one person.

In response to both incidents, the IDF once again urged Israelis not to hitchhike in the West Bank. The army has received several intelligence warnings of plans by terrorist groups to kidnap Jewish civilians or soldiers to exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.