Shin Bet: Terror attacks will intensify ahead of Passover holiday

The head of Israel’s Security Agency warned that Palestinian terror groups will escalate attacks ahead of the holiday season. 

Attempts by Palestinian terrorists to carry out attacks against Israel will intensify in the coming month, ahead of the Passover holiday, the head of the Shin Bet (Israel’s Security Agency) warned.

Addressing the Knesset’s Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday, Shin Bet director Nadav Argaman said “there is no doubt” that terrorism networks, and including those commanded by Hamas, will attempt to carry out attacks ahead of the spring holiday season.

Passover and Israel’s national holidays, including Independence Day, are among the upcoming holidays.

Referring to the relative quiet in recent months, Argaman said that Israel has learned to contend with the wave of terror attacks – perpetrated mostly by individuals – through technological, operative and intelligence developments.

However, the quiet is misleading, he added, as Israel’s combined security forces have been successful in foiling over 400 terror plots. Hamas and the Islamic Jihad attempt to carry out attacks almost on a daily basis.

Relating to the regional turmoil, Argaman said that the Middle East is constantly experiencing significant geostrategic shifts, which will have implications for the coming decades. The battle among world powers for dominance in the region and the results of the nuclear deal signed with Iran will also deeply affect developments in the region, he added.

Israeli security forces are expected to bolster their presence at potential flashpoints ahead of the holiday season.

By: Aryeh Savir, World Israel News