Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi held on Thursday a special meeting to discuss the ongoing heightened tensions in Judea and Samaria in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks, as Israeli forces arrested more than 30 Palestinians in various counterterrorism operations.
Follow Israel Hayom on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Members of the IDF top brass and senior Shin Bet security officials were in attendance to discuss the special measures that were introduced in recent days and prepare for upcoming Jewish and Muslim holidays, which often coincide with increased clashes.
During the overnight raids in the Palestinian city of Jenin in northern Samaria, three were arrested for helping carry out the recent attack in Bnei Barak, in which 5 were killed. Three terrorists who shot at the troops were killed. The troops also confiscated illegal arms, including an M-16 assault rifle, in a nearby village. Meanwhile, special forces conducted raids across Judea and Samaria, which culminated with additional arrests, including an Islamic State-affiliated terrorist. At the end of the meeting, Kochavi told the commanders that they "have the ability and duty to prevent terrorist attacks. You can crack down on what led to this recent spate of attacks and frustrate additional attempts."
He added that he has full faith in their abilities. "Today's raids in Jenin comprise part of the overall offensive measures we are going to pursue in order to prevent terrorism. We will continue with the raids and arrests as long as it takes in order to stop terrorism and allow Israelis to lead a normal life."
