Israeli security thwarted hundreds of attacks in 2016

Israel’s Security Agency thwarted hundreds of Palestinian terror attacks on Israelis over the past year, in collaboration with the IDF.

The head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) said it has thwarted some 400 “significant” Palestinian terror attacks over the course of the past year. The foiled attacks include 180 shootings.

Speaking at a special ceremony on Tuesday recognizing six outstanding operations conducted over the past two years, Shin Bet head Nadav Argaman lauded the agency’s work.

The majority of terrorist cells behind the attacks were not affiliated with major terrorist groups.

“Hamas is encouraging terrorist attacks, but these cells don’t receive their orders from it. There’s an atmosphere of violence, and much of it is inspired by the Islamic State (ISIS) group and the terrorist attacks in Europe,” a security official told Israel’s Walla news site this week.

The IDF and Shin Bet have been collaborating closely to enhance security. IDF data indicates that terrorist cells operating across Judea and Samaria target army posts as well as bus and hitchhiking stations. Terrorists also ambush Israeli vehicles traveling on the area’s roads or target them in drive-by shootings.

Security forces have become more effective in dealing with this threat and “no longer try to cover large areas, but rather operate according to more focused intelligence and security assessments,” the official told Walla.

By: World Israel News Staff and JNS.org

IDFJudea and SamariaNadav ArgamanPalestinain terrorShin Bet