Israel nabs top Islamic Jihad terrorist

Israeli  forces arrest  a senior Islamic Jihad terrorist in Samaria, as tensions between the Jewish state and the terror group run high.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News

IDF forces on Sunday night apprehended a senior Islamic Jihad operative in the Palestinian town of Araba, in the Jenin area.

An IDF spokesman stated that the suspect was transferred to security forces for further questioning.

The terrorist was identified as Tareq Qa’adan. He has previously served time in Israeli prisons for terror offenses.

The arrest comes is tension between Israel and the Islamic Jihad are high.

The IDF estimates that the Islamic Jihad is planning an attack on the Jewish State following the IDF’s demolition of a Gaza terror tunnel some two weeks ago. A total of 14 terrorists were killed in the aftermath of the tunnel collapse, including two senior Islamic Jihad field commanders.

The Palestinian terror group has vowed revenge.

In a message in Arabic published on Saturday, Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) head Maj. Gen. Yoav Mordechai warned the Islamic Jihad to abandon plans to take revenge on Israel, saying that Israel knows of their plans and is prepared to repel them.

“It should be clear: Any retaliation of any kind by the Islamic Jihad will be met with a powerful and determined Israeli response, not only against the Jihad, but also against Hamas,” Mordechai warned.

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Similarly, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu warned Gaza-based Palestinian terror groups not to attack Israel.

“There are those who still amuse themselves these days by trying to renew attacks against Israel,” Netanyahu remarked at the beginning of the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday. “We will take a very firm stance against anyone who tries to attack us or attacks us from any area. I mean any source: rogue factions, organizations – anyone.”

The IDF is on high alert on the border with Gaza in anticipation of a Palestinian attack. This arrest may have been a preventive action against a pending attack in the Samaria area.