The removal of IDF checkpoints from Arab-populated areas of Judea and Samaria, in accordance with US and PA demands, has lead to an increase in terrorist shooting attacks.

The increase was recorded over the last half of 2007, especially on the main north-south Highway 60 leading from Hevron to Jerusalem and in the northern Shomron area.

The IDF has long insisted, and continues to insist, that only its presence in PA-controlled Judea and Samaria can ensure that Hamas not take control.  However, it justifies the removal of some of the checkpoints - at the behest of strong international pressure - by saying that the number of intelligence warnings of attacks had dropped.

Checkpoint Soldiers Disarm Would-be Terrorist
Sunday afternoon, soldiers found a 15-centimter (6-inch) long knife on the person of an Arab who arrived at the Entebba Crossing near Tul Karem, east of Netanya. The Arab was taken in for questioning.

"Hamas will not be able to overturn the PA government in Judea and Samaria as it did in Gaza if the IDF is still there," a top officer told Arutz-7's Haggai Huberman, "but it continues to try to carry out terrorist attacks nonetheless."

Addressing the failure of the PA to contain Hamas, the source said, "In Gaza, the PA [Fatah] security services had weapons and the like, but at the critical moment, when Hamas attacked, they didn't fight; they just ran away."

Homesh on Target
The IDF says that there have been two recent attempts to carry out terror attacks against the Jews who continually try to visit the ruins of Homesh - one of the 4 Jewish towns in the Shomron that were destroyed in the Disengagement.  The army discovered and thwarted the two attempts in advance. 

The IDF continues to be on the alert for a Fatah or Hamas attempt to kidnap Jews, either soldiers or citizens, which would be a major accomplishment for the terrorists.