The past week (February 17 – 23) saw an increase in the number of Israeli vehicles attacked with rocks and fire bombs in Judea and Samaria, according to the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center. One Israeli civilian sustained minor injuries.

The Gaza front was relatively quiet, on the other hand, with no rockets hitting Israeli territory. However, on February 18 an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated against an IDF patrol, causing minor injuries to a soldier. Another IED was discovered nearby.

Some of the incidents in Judea and Samaria included:

Wednesday, February 17 – Rocks were thrown at three Israeli vehicles west of Bethlehem. There were no casualties and no damage was done. Rocks were also thrown at an Israeli vehicle southeast of Bethlehem, causing minor injuries to an Israeli civilian and damaging the vehicle. Rocks were thrown at Israeli automobiles southeast of Kalkilya. There were no casualties and no damage was done. A Molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli car west of Ramallah. There were no casualties but the vehicle was damaged.

A Border Police force at a checkpoint northwest of Jenin, in Samaria, discovered four pipe bombs hidden in the tools of an Arab youth.

As part of a cooperation agreement between the Palestinian Authority security forces and the IDF, the PA recently turned over to Israel a rocket which had apparently been manufactured in Judea or Samaria. It would have been launched into the center of Israel. Security forces discovered the rocket following advance information.

Thursday, February 18 – A fire bomb was thrown at an Israeli bus southwest of Bethlehem. No casualties, but it was damaged.

Sunday, February 21 – Rocks were hurled at an Israeli bus southwest of Bethlehem. No casualties were reported, but the bus was damaged.

Monday, February 22 – An Arab arrived at a checkpoint south of Shechem armed with a gun, and threatened an Israeli civilian. IDF soldiers overcame him. Examination proved the gun to be a toy. Also, rocks were thrown at an Israeli vehicle southwest of Bethlehem. There were no casualties and no damage. A molotov cocktail was thrown at an Israeli automobile southeast of Kalkilya. There were no casualties but the vehicle was damaged.

On the 22nd and 23rd, riots erupted in Hevron after the Israeli government decision to include the Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel’s Tomb in a project for the preservation of national heritage sites.