Israeli security forces continue in the struggle to prevent Arab and Islamic terrorism against Israelis, with a measure of success. It was revealed last night that a severe terrorist attack against a Haifa-area military base was thwarted last month thanks to accurate intelligence reports. Several Islamic Jihad terrorists were taken into custody as a result of the revelation.
Other counter-terrorism successes of late include the IDF apprehension of senior Fatah and Hamas leaders, as well as lower-ranking terrorists. Fatah Tanzim member Saber Maslama, responsible for recruiting and dispatching suicide bombers, as well as other bombing attacks, was captured in Bethlehem yesterday and turned over to the custody of the GSS (General Security Service – Shin/Bet) for further interrogation. Also captured yesterday [Monday] was 39-year-old Izz a-Din el-Masri, a senior aide to Hamas master terrorist Mohammad Deif. He was apprehended at the Gush Katif Junction in Gaza. Eight other Arab suspects, wanted in connection with terrorist attacks on Jews, were arrested over night near Shechem and Hevron.
In a failed counter-terrorism operation yesterday, which IDF sources refused to comment on, IAF attack helicopters reportedly fired missiles at a vehicle carrying a senior Islamic Jihad member through Jabalya in Gaza, but failed to kill him. According to news agency reports, the occupants of the car managed to flee moments before it was destroyed by the missiles.
Meanwhile, a nationwide terrorism alert continues, with security forces deployed in large numbers throughout populated areas and along areas bordering the Palestinian Authority. Checkpoints and spot inspection stations are continuing to operate, as recent warnings speak of a level of terrorist threat similar to that prior to last April’s Operation Defensive Shield.
Attacks attempted by Arab attackers over the course of the last 24 hours include the following: In Gaza, an armored military vehicle was targeted by gunfire in southern Gaza near the border to Egypt yesterday... Also on the border with Egypt, close to an IDF position, an explosive device was detected and safely neutralized. Elsewhere in Gaza, IDF soldiers were targeted by gunfire near the community of Gadid, in Gush Katif. There were no injuries in any of the incidents.... Judea and Samaria was also the scene of several attempted attacks on Israeli troops: A military vehicle was targeted in a bomb attack in Shechem yesterday afternoon, and another IDF patrol was attacked with firebombs today... Another device, containing 15 kilograms of explosives, was discovered in Shechem and detonated before it could be deployed against Israelis... In the Jerusalem vicinity, gunmen from Qalandia fired at soldiers manning the Rama Checkpoint, on the northern border of the capital... In Bethlehem, a military patrol vehicle was targeted in a shooting attack... An army patrol was targeted by terrorist gunfire last night near Kiryat Arba-Hevron.... Israeli civilian motorists were also targets for low-level terrorism, as Arabs in the vicinity of Luban el-Sharqiya in Samaria threw rocks at passing Israeli vehicles. There were no injuries in any of the foregoing incidents.
Other counter-terrorism successes of late include the IDF apprehension of senior Fatah and Hamas leaders, as well as lower-ranking terrorists. Fatah Tanzim member Saber Maslama, responsible for recruiting and dispatching suicide bombers, as well as other bombing attacks, was captured in Bethlehem yesterday and turned over to the custody of the GSS (General Security Service – Shin/Bet) for further interrogation. Also captured yesterday [Monday] was 39-year-old Izz a-Din el-Masri, a senior aide to Hamas master terrorist Mohammad Deif. He was apprehended at the Gush Katif Junction in Gaza. Eight other Arab suspects, wanted in connection with terrorist attacks on Jews, were arrested over night near Shechem and Hevron.
In a failed counter-terrorism operation yesterday, which IDF sources refused to comment on, IAF attack helicopters reportedly fired missiles at a vehicle carrying a senior Islamic Jihad member through Jabalya in Gaza, but failed to kill him. According to news agency reports, the occupants of the car managed to flee moments before it was destroyed by the missiles.
Meanwhile, a nationwide terrorism alert continues, with security forces deployed in large numbers throughout populated areas and along areas bordering the Palestinian Authority. Checkpoints and spot inspection stations are continuing to operate, as recent warnings speak of a level of terrorist threat similar to that prior to last April’s Operation Defensive Shield.
Attacks attempted by Arab attackers over the course of the last 24 hours include the following: In Gaza, an armored military vehicle was targeted by gunfire in southern Gaza near the border to Egypt yesterday... Also on the border with Egypt, close to an IDF position, an explosive device was detected and safely neutralized. Elsewhere in Gaza, IDF soldiers were targeted by gunfire near the community of Gadid, in Gush Katif. There were no injuries in any of the incidents.... Judea and Samaria was also the scene of several attempted attacks on Israeli troops: A military vehicle was targeted in a bomb attack in Shechem yesterday afternoon, and another IDF patrol was attacked with firebombs today... Another device, containing 15 kilograms of explosives, was discovered in Shechem and detonated before it could be deployed against Israelis... In the Jerusalem vicinity, gunmen from Qalandia fired at soldiers manning the Rama Checkpoint, on the northern border of the capital... In Bethlehem, a military patrol vehicle was targeted in a shooting attack... An army patrol was targeted by terrorist gunfire last night near Kiryat Arba-Hevron.... Israeli civilian motorists were also targets for low-level terrorism, as Arabs in the vicinity of Luban el-Sharqiya in Samaria threw rocks at passing Israeli vehicles. There were no injuries in any of the foregoing incidents.