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BETHLEHEM (Ma'an) -- Israeli police arrested four Israelis after they were accused of stabbing and seriously wounding a 19-year-old Palestinian Friday evening, according to an Israeli police spokeswoman, who claimed initial investigations indicated that the attack had criminal motives.

Luba al-Samri said in a statement that the "Arab" victim was stabbed on the street in his hometown of Nahariya in northern Israel, and that four "Jewish suspects," which included a teenager and three others between 20 and 45 years old, were being interrogated for their involvement in the attack.

The Palestinian, who remained unidentified, was evacuated to the hospital for treatment of serious injuries, al-Samri said.

Israeli police were expected to request to extend the remand of the four suspects on Saturday for further invitation in the case that al-Samri said "seemed to be purely criminal," without elaborating.

Anti-Palestinian attacks in Israel are frequent, with activists and rights groups having denounced a “culture of impunity” for Israelis committing violent acts against Palestinians.