The incident occurred during the night in the Balata slum neighborhood of Shechem (Nablus), the city long described as the terror capital of the Palestinian Authority.
In the course of ongoing activity designed to pressure terrorist groups in the area, and in the wake of intelligence warnings regarding preparations for an imminent terrorist attack, the Israeli forces entered the Balata neighborhood over the course of the night. They surrounded a particular building, from which terrorists inside soon began firing and hurling explosives at the forces. The Israelis returned fire, identifying 3-5 hits; our forces were unhurt.
The joint IDF and GSS forces then combed the area, finding a powerful 10-kg. (22 lbs.) explosives vest hidden among garbage bins outside the building. Two wanted terrorists were arrested.
"I told my soldiers afterwards, 'You just saved 20 people in Netanya, or possibly more if it [the bomb] would have been used in a more populous area,'" the commanding officer later told Ynet. Many of the soldiers who fought this mission returned just three weeks ago from Lebanon.
Explosives vests of this type have been used by Palestinian terrorists in dozens of suicide bombing attacks in Israel over the past several years, murdering hundreds of people.
Other Anti-Terror Operations
IDF forces also operated and were attacked in Jenin last night, but no one was hurt. Nine wanted terrorists were arrested in Ramallah and Hevron.
In southern Gaza, the Israel Air Force bombed and destroyed a building under which a smuggling tunnel from Egypt had been dug. Israel warned the occupants to leave 15 minutes before the attack, but a 15-year-old girl was still reported killed.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told soldiers yesterday that we face more years of fighting "for our right to live in this land." Speaking at a gathering of City Officers and soldiers responsible for informing families in the event of loved ones' death, Halutz said, "I want to wish for us that you will no longer have to carry out your work, but I know this is an unrealistic wish in the State of Israel. We are accustomed to saying this sentence, but we know deep down that it has been decreed upon us to continue fighting for the right to live in this land."
In the course of ongoing activity designed to pressure terrorist groups in the area, and in the wake of intelligence warnings regarding preparations for an imminent terrorist attack, the Israeli forces entered the Balata neighborhood over the course of the night. They surrounded a particular building, from which terrorists inside soon began firing and hurling explosives at the forces. The Israelis returned fire, identifying 3-5 hits; our forces were unhurt.
The joint IDF and GSS forces then combed the area, finding a powerful 10-kg. (22 lbs.) explosives vest hidden among garbage bins outside the building. Two wanted terrorists were arrested.
"I told my soldiers afterwards, 'You just saved 20 people in Netanya, or possibly more if it [the bomb] would have been used in a more populous area,'" the commanding officer later told Ynet. Many of the soldiers who fought this mission returned just three weeks ago from Lebanon.
Explosives vests of this type have been used by Palestinian terrorists in dozens of suicide bombing attacks in Israel over the past several years, murdering hundreds of people.
Other Anti-Terror Operations
IDF forces also operated and were attacked in Jenin last night, but no one was hurt. Nine wanted terrorists were arrested in Ramallah and Hevron.
In southern Gaza, the Israel Air Force bombed and destroyed a building under which a smuggling tunnel from Egypt had been dug. Israel warned the occupants to leave 15 minutes before the attack, but a 15-year-old girl was still reported killed.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz told soldiers yesterday that we face more years of fighting "for our right to live in this land." Speaking at a gathering of City Officers and soldiers responsible for informing families in the event of loved ones' death, Halutz said, "I want to wish for us that you will no longer have to carry out your work, but I know this is an unrealistic wish in the State of Israel. We are accustomed to saying this sentence, but we know deep down that it has been decreed upon us to continue fighting for the right to live in this land."