Targeted Assassinations, IDF Operations Among Potential Responses to Palestinian Terror Campaign
In the past seven weeks, 19 Israelis have been killed in terror attacks.
By Pesach Benson, United With Israel
As Palestinian terror attacks continue, Israel is considering military operations in Jenin and Gaza, according to Hebrew media reports.
On Sunday evening, four Palestinians tried to infiltrate the Jewish community of Tekoa, south of Jerusalem. One Palestinian was shot and killed, the other three escaped.
Also on Sunday, an Israeli Border Police officer was stabbed by a Palestinian in Jerusalem by the Old City’s Damascus Gate. The officer is listed in moderate condition. His attacker was shot by responding officers and is in critical condition.
In the past seven weeks, 19 Israelis have been killed in terror attacks. Ramadan, which recently ended, brought with it “a 200% increase in terrorist attacks in Israel between 2005 and 2016,” according to a Dutch study cited by the Jerusalem Post.
Jenin is drawing special attention because many of the Palestinian terrorists have come from that area. However, operations would also include arrest raids in other Palestinian cities in Judea and Samaria.
Gaza is also drawing attention because Hamas’ chief in the Strip, Yahya Sinwar, has been inciting Palestinians in Judea and Samaria, claiming Israel is threatening Jerusalem’s Temple Mount. However, Hebrew reports have not elaborated on what a Gaza escalation might look like.
Recent reports have also raised the possibility of Israel renewing targeted assassinations against Gaza’s terror leaders. But the reports stress that while the IDF has plans in place, military officials do not believe the time is ripe for targeted killings. The IDF hasn’t carried out a targeted assassination since a May 10, 2021 air strike on Hamas commander Mohammed Abdullah Fayyad during Operation Guardian of the Walls.
According to Israel’s Channel 13, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett favors a Gaza operation while Defense Minister Benny Gantz prefers targeting the Jenin area.
Meanwhile, Israel’s Channel 12 reported that Justice Minister Gideon Saar has directed his staff to examine the legality of demolishing the homes of terrorists who have Israeli citizenship. Some of the terror attacks over the last several weeks were carried out by Arab Israelis.
“We need to find new methods of deterrence,” Sa’ar said.
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