Intense Palestinian fire was directed towards the N\'vei Dekalim industrial zone this afternoon, following a shooting at an IDF outpost this morning near Netzarim. No one was hurt. The attacks follow several incidents last night, including shots at Psagot and the Ofer Base, on different sides of Ramallah; a lightly-wounded Israeli driver in a stone-throwing attack near Gush Etzion, south of Jerusalem; and attacks in Gaza. In Jerusalem\'s Talpiot industrial zone, a bomb exploded this morning minutes after the trashcan in which it was hidden was collected by sanitation workers. The bomb, which was not large, exploded inside a garbage truck, causing it light damage.
In addition, BNI reports that a tractor operator - who happened to be an Arab - working in the Jewish town of Eli (between Ofrah and Shilo) was wounded by Arab stone-throwers. Residents of the Arab village Issawiya climbed the mountain into Eli last night and attacked construction workers, and also caused damage to the tractor and a security vehicle.
Despite the above, army sources report a drop in terrorist activity over the past few days - because of the Id al-Adha holiday - but foresee, in accordance with Hamas promises, an increase within a few days. The PA has called upon its fighters not to shoot from within built-up areas, in light of the severe IDF retaliation on these locations.
The IDF has cut off potential escape routes for Palestinian terrorists and car-thieves by digging trenches around a number of Palestinian villages north of Ramallah, effectively cutting off the Palestinian university of Bir Zeit and the area from Ramallah. The IDF took these measures in light of the almost constant shooting attacks in the area by Palestinian gunmen since the start of violence five months ago. On many occasions, the gunmen would then flee to Ramallah via the dirt roads that the IDF has now blocked. Phone and water lines have been cut off to Bir Zeit University, a hotbed of student Islamic fundamentalism.
In addition, BNI reports that a tractor operator - who happened to be an Arab - working in the Jewish town of Eli (between Ofrah and Shilo) was wounded by Arab stone-throwers. Residents of the Arab village Issawiya climbed the mountain into Eli last night and attacked construction workers, and also caused damage to the tractor and a security vehicle.
Despite the above, army sources report a drop in terrorist activity over the past few days - because of the Id al-Adha holiday - but foresee, in accordance with Hamas promises, an increase within a few days. The PA has called upon its fighters not to shoot from within built-up areas, in light of the severe IDF retaliation on these locations.
The IDF has cut off potential escape routes for Palestinian terrorists and car-thieves by digging trenches around a number of Palestinian villages north of Ramallah, effectively cutting off the Palestinian university of Bir Zeit and the area from Ramallah. The IDF took these measures in light of the almost constant shooting attacks in the area by Palestinian gunmen since the start of violence five months ago. On many occasions, the gunmen would then flee to Ramallah via the dirt roads that the IDF has now blocked. Phone and water lines have been cut off to Bir Zeit University, a hotbed of student Islamic fundamentalism.