Israeli security forces foiled more than ten terrorist attacks in the last two weeks, the chief of the Israel Defense Forces, Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, revealed on Monday. The remarks after Israel witnessed a wave of deadly terrorist attacks that claimed eleven lives.
The surge in terror attacks coincides with the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, which began on April 1. At least two of the attacks were carried out by terrorists linked to the Islamic States (ISIS).
The Israeli security forces were being mobilized to counter the rising wave of Palestinian violence and terror. “All security systems are now being employed to restore security to the citizens of Israel,” Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said on Tuesday.
Jerusalem-based Israel Hayom newspaper reported the IDF chief’s comments:
At least 10 terrorist attacks in Israel have been prevented in the last two weeks, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said Monday evening, speaking at a ceremony honoring the new commander of the Israeli Air Force.”We will get to every neighborhood, every street, every home or basement in order to get our hands on the terrorists. We will operate everywhere, using every method, to stop the wave of terrorism,” Kochavi said.
The remarks come amid a wave of Palestinian rioting, the newspaper added:
The rioting erupted as the heavy contingent of police deployed at the gate were attempting to allow crowds of Muslim worshippers to hold Ramadan prayers at the Temple Mount. Clashes emerged at Damascus Gate, with rioters making inciting against Israel. A small group of rioters shot off fireworks and threw bottles and rocks at the police.
Last year’s Ramadan festivities were also marred by widespread Palestinian rioting and attacks on Jews in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities. The weekly Ramadan prayers on Jerusalem’s Temple Mount are often used to incite violence against Jews and Israelis.
Last week, the IDF chief also warned of more terrorist attacks on Israeli civilians and the Jewish communities abroad. “There is a fear that the imitation effect will lead to attempts to harm Israeli and Jewish targets around the world,” Lt. Gen. Aviv Kohavi said on Thursday.
Monday’s remarks made by the IDF chief echo the threat assessment issued by the Israeli police. The security forces were gearing up for more violence in the coming weeks, a senior police official disclosed.
The Israeli news website Ynetnews reported:
Israel Police is bracing itself for a series of commemorative dates throughout April and May that could potentially spark nationwide chaos, a top-brass police officer told Ynet on Monday.”Even the smallest spark could ignite multi-front incidents across Israel,” said Deputy Commissioner Sigal Bar-Tzvi, head of Israel Police’s Operations Department.”The police is on very high alert of these events”, Bar-Tzvi said. “We’re trying to create maximal presence throughout the country, especially in potential flashpoints to answer for any scenario.Our policy as law enforcement is to create as little friction as possible during protests and even during riots like around the Damascus Gate. The order passed down to the commanders on the ground is to try to contain such events and avoid arrests. However, the commander on the ground has full backing to act as they deem fit in the face of such riots…”
As Ramadan began, Palestinian rioters armed with stones clashed with the police in Jerusalem, the Israeli media reported Tuesday. The violence surges as thousands of Muslim worshipers converge on the Holy City to pray at the temple mount.
The Times of Israel, on Tuesday, reported the latest round of Palestinian violence:
Police say eight Palestinians have been detained during clashes at the Damascus Gate entrance to Jerusalem’s Old City, as Palestinians gather to celebrate Ramadan.Police say the suspects hurled stones and other items at officers. They add that some of the rioters were also involved in unrest last night as well. It is the third night in a row of clashes at Damascus Gate.“Whoever chooses to disturb the order, riot, and engage in violence of any kind, harms first and foremost the large public of worshipers, merchants, and visitors, the vast majority of whom wished to celebrate Ramadan in peace and security, while maintaining freedom of worship,” police say in a statement.
A massive rocket offensive followed last year’s Ramadan rioting and pro-Hamas demonstrations in Jerusalem by the Gaza-based terrorist groups. They fired over 4000 rockets on Israeli towns and cities in two weeks. The relentless rocket barrages only ended when the IDF launched a counter-terrorism operation that destroyed Hamas’ ammunition dumps, attack tunnels, and terrorist infrastructure spread across Gaza.
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