The fight against Palestinian terrorism continues, strengthening the perception that it can be done effectively only where the IDF is present.
IDF forces arrested 11 wanted Arab terror suspects in Palestinian Authority-controlled areas overnight. Four were arrested south of Jenin, another three in the hostile village of Tzurif near Bethlehem, and the others in various other locations. They were transferred to Israel Security Agency (Shabak ) installations for interrogation.
In Gaza Wednesday morning, Israeli forces opened fire at several Arabs attempting to approach the border fence, or, according to other sources, to fire mortar shells at Israel. PA sources said a woman was killed and five people were injured.
Residents of southern Binyamin communities - Beit El, Ofrah, Eli, Shilo, Kokhav HaShachar and others – were warned Tuesday night by the army that a “very concrete” intelligence warning regarding an attempted kidnapping was in effect. Hitchhiking residents were told to check very carefully before getting into a car in the area.
The Binyamin security headquarters informed Israel National News that the warning remains in effect today as well.
Just a week ago, a young Arab dressed as a hitchhiking yeshiva boy waited for a “ride” at a junction near Eli and Maaleh Levonah, and when one showed up, he attacked the woman driver with tear gas and attempted to commandeer the vehicle with her baby inside. The woman managed to turn off the electronic code-enabled engine, however, and the terrorist did not succeed in restarting it. He escaped the scene, and the woman was given medical treatment at the scene.
Mainstream Israeli media did not report the attempted kidnapping.