Soldiers stumbled across a bulletproof vehicle and a stolen IDF telescopic rifle on Tuesday, foiling plans for a major attack by a Hevron area terrorist. Investigators have not yet determined if he was part of a larger cell.
The vehicle, an Isuzu tender that was re-shaped in the form of an IDF armored car, was discovered during a search for stolen vehicles in Yatta, a city situated immediately to the south of Hevron and considered one of the major centers for car theft rings. The thefts are a source of income for terrorists and also provide them with Israel-licensed vehicles to make it easier for them to pass checkpoints while on the way to carry out attacks on Israelis at urban centers.
Military personnel found the vehicle hidden among large rocks in a garbage dump. Its doors had been replaced with thick metal plates, which also were used for the hood to prevent damage to the engine during an attack. All of the windows had been removed and were replaced by bulletproof metal.
Soldiers recovered a high-powered telescopic rifle and ammunition that had been stolen from the IDF.
Yatta formerly was a Fatah stronghold, but Hamas has made deep inroads into the city the past several years