Israel is in the grip of a terror wave as the country witnessed four attacks within a week, killing 11 people. The latest attack took place on Thursday when a Palestinian terrorist on a bus stabbed an Israeli several times before an armed passenger took him down, the Israeli media reported.
The week-long wave of Palestinian terror attacks comes ahead of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which begins next weekend. As Ramadan approaches, the Israeli military warned of more terrorist attacks aimed at Israelis civilians and Jews across the world.
“There is a fear that the imitation effect will lead to attempts to harm Israeli and Jewish targets around the world,” Israel Defense Forces chief Aviv Kohavi told the country’s TV network Channel 13 on Thursday.
The Israeli news website Ynetnews reported the latest attack which took place in Judean Hills:
The terrorist – a 30-year-old Palestinian from the West Bank city of Bethlehem – was neutralized shortly after the attack (…).According to Magen David Adom [Israel’s equivalent of the Red Cross], the attack occurred around 09:10 am at the settlement cluster of Gush Etzion. Paramedics who arrived at the scene treated the wounded man, 28, on the spot before evacuating him to Shaare Zedek Medical Center in Jerusalem for further treatment, while fully conscious. (…)The Shaare Zedek Medical Center, said: “A wounded man from the stabbing attack in Gush Etzion was taken to the trauma unit in a serious condition. “The 30-year-old man suffered stab wounds to his upper body and underwent initial evaluation and stabilization in the trauma unit before being transferred to the operating room.”
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett urged Israelis civilians, especially those in possession of arms, to protect their communities and the country. “Keep an eye open. Whoever has a gun license, it’s time to carry the gun,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Wednesday. “We are also currently evaluating a larger framework to involve civilian volunteers who want to help and be of assistance,” he added.
The Israeli military responded to the resurging terror wave with a counter-terrorism campaign dubbed Operation “Wave Breaker.” Israel beefed up the police presence in Jerusalem while security forces combed Palestinian cities, rounding up suspected terrorists affiliated to the Islamic State and other terrorist groups.
“Forces from the IDF, Shin Bet and Israel Police conducted a widespread arrest campaign throughout the West Bank in the Balata refugee camp in Nablus, Bethlehem, Kedumim, Ramallah, Marda, Yabad and villages south of Bethlehem,” The Jerusalem Post reported Thursday.
The Israeli TV channel i24News reported the ramping up of security in wake of Ramadan celebrations:
Security has increased in Israeli cities and in the West Bank with Defense Minister Benny Gantz ordering the deployment of 1,000 troops to reinforce police.A total of 3,000 police will be stationed at flash points in Jerusalem for the start of the Muslim holiday of Ramadan when hundreds of thousands of worshippers are expected to ascend to the Al Aqsa Mosque compound on the Temple Mount for prayers.
“Israel has arrested 43 suspects with alleged links to the Islamic State terrorist group in the wake of two deadly attacks in Be’er Sheva and Hadera by men affiliated with ISIS, according to Hebrew-language media reports,” the i24News noted in a separate reported.
As Israel suffered the highest weekly death toll since the terror campaign of the Second Intifada 16 year ago, Palestinian groups gathered in New York calling for a new Intifada. Hundred of pro-Palestinian activists gathered outside Grand Central Station chanting ‘Intifada until victory’ and destruction of Israel ‘From the river to the sea.’
The Times of Israel reported:
The demonstrators gathered outside Grand Central Station in Manhattan, while a small group of pro-Israel counter-protesters assembled across the street, bearing Israeli flags and signs with the images of the 11 Israelis killed in terror attacks in the past week.The pro-Palestinian group then marched through midtown Manhattan, stopping at the offices of Israel-linked groups including Friends of the IDF, the Central Fund of Israel and Ateret Cohanim.They bore signs that read “Intifada until victory,” “We will free Palestine within our lifetime” and “Resistance until return.”The protesters chanted, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free,” “Resistance is justified when people are colonized,” “New York to Gaza, globalize the intifada” and “There is only one solution — intifada revolution.”
A thousand Israelis were killed and several thousands maimed in Palestinian terrorist attacks and suicide bombings during the Second Intifada which took place between 2000 and 2005. Hundreds of Israelis died in the First Intifada terror wave (1987 and 1991).
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