Israel’s security forces are concerned that the recent terrorist attacks are not an arbitrary occurrence but a terrorist wave similar in scope to the one that happened a few months ago.
The reasons, according to military sources, that the number of casualties has been smaller since then are, among other things, because of intense Israel Defense Force activity that takes place throughout the West Bank every night. The security system has already announced a high alert for the Jewish high holidays and increased alertness in Jerusalem and the West Bank.
The month of September is not over yet, and it yet the terrorism within it would be enough to cripple any western country except Israel, which is, unfortunately, used to it. Almost every day during the month, serious terrorist activity occurred. Some of them ended without casualties, others had a far different outcome and all but a fraction of them were left not covered by most mainstream news outlets.
The most recent attack took place on the night between Thursday and Friday in Samaria. Shots were fired at houses in the Samarian community of Har Bracha, famous for producing some of the world's best Tahini. One of the bullets hit the window of a house, causing damage but luckily there were no injuries.
For the second night in a row shots were fired toward the Har Bracha settlement near Nablus. The bullets hit a bedroom window, luckily there were no injuries. The Lions Den group took responsibility for the gunfire yesterday, and likely behind the shooting this morning pic.twitter.com/tMijAA9oPS
— Anna Ahronheim (@AAhronheim) September 23, 2022
The shooting came in the aftermath of a terrorist attack that happened Thursday evening just outside the central city of Modi'in where a Palestinian assailant stabbed several people and sprayed others with pepper spray. In total, there were eight injuries from the Modi'in attack. There have been several other shooting incidents in recent days, mainly in Judea and Samaria, and an alarming uptick in incidents where objects such as small boulders, glass bottles, and cans have been tossed from ridges toward Israeli vehicles.
Horrifying news today from Israel. We pray for a speedy and full recovery for the wounded.
— UJA Federation of Greater Toronto (@UJAFederation) September 22, 2022
Israelis - like all people - have a right to live in peace and without fear of violence. These terror attacks must end.
https://t.co/6kvWfBbV5V
In the Israeli security circles, there are fears of clashes on the Temple Mount ahead of Rosh Hashanah that could spill over to other places. Most of the recent terrorist attacks were executed by “lone wolves” with no major planning behind them according to investigators.
In Jerusalem, thousands of police officers have already deployed to try and prevent the next attack, which many analysts say will come so long as the Palestinian Authority is incentivizing the population to carry them out through lifelong stipends. The Nablus Gate, not far from the Temple Mount mosque, is one of the crucial locations with great potential for conflicts, mainly due to the friction between large numbers of Jewish visitors and Arabs expected throughout the holiday.
Israeli police will increase security across Jerusalem for the High Holidays amid fears of possible terror attacks. The Times of Israel reports that police plan to deploy 2,000 officers across in the lead up to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. pic.twitter.com/rK3PyFjbzC
— AIJAC (@AIJAC_Update) September 23, 2022
Israeli security officials understand that a serious escalation in the West Bank also radiates into the cities in the interior of Israel, and the problem lies mainly in the fact that most of the threats come from individual actors, about whom it is not possible to obtain advance information and thus thwart his or her intentions.
Amid the tension in the capital, Samaria is also on high alert, and the army has announced reinforcements there. Among other things, the IDF will reinforce the area of northern Samaria with forces attached to the Golani brigade to help the IDF personnel already operating there. Additionally, the IDF is observing Palestinian Authority activity in Nablus to see if there is a demonstration of 'presence and determination' on the part of the PA. Palestinian security forces have come under attack in Nablus and Jenin in recent weeks, and in the past have often backed away from patrolling the seemingly lawless cities.
Riots continue in the West Bank city of Nablus after Palestinian Authority security forces arrested a member of Hamas.#SahabatPalestina_ID 🇵🇸#ForeverPalestine pic.twitter.com/it3tTQymeg
— ғᴏʀᴇᴠᴇʀ ᴘᴀʟᴇsᴛɪɴᴇ (@PaLForever__06) September 21, 2022
Israel has transferred to the Palestinian Authority a list of wanted people, if the PA does not act upon this list and make arrests, IDF forces will enter Nablus and do their job for them.
