Despite the attack in Tel Aviv and the many warnings, Israel continues to try and pursue a differential and complex policy toward the Palestinian arena.
On the one hand, the fight against terrorism, and on the other - non-damage to the Palestinian economy and the continued employment of more than 100,000 Palestinians in Israel, as well as the avoidance of canceling the Ramadan relief.
Even before the attack in Tel Aviv, there were voices at the top of the security policy that believed that this policy should be changed.
They intensified over the weekend, and yet - on the recommendation of the defense establishment - the cabinet that convenes today is not expected to decide on a significant change in trend.
This expected decision will receive much criticism if, God forbid, another attack is carried out from Judea and Samaria; in order to reduce the danger, the IDF will intensify its activities over the weekend in the seam area, which has once again been exposed as a weak point that needs to be addressed.
Mapping of the terrorist's house in Jenin, Photo: IDF Spokesman
Skip between the mines
The attack also led to the decision to enter the Jenin refugee camp in large numbers yesterday.
The official goal was to map the house of the terrorist who carried out the attack prior to its demolition and arrest his relatives for questioning, but there was another, overt but undeclared reason for this activity: to make it clear to Palestinians that Israel does not shy away from operating in , Israel may decide to act on it with much greater intensity.
Such an operation - a "reduced defensive wall", as it is called - has been on the agenda for many months, since the return of northern Samaria in general, and Jenin in particular, to be the main and most disturbing focus of terrorism in the West Bank.
So far, Israel has refrained from doing so for a variety of reasons, from the hope that the Palestinian security forces will work to regain control, to an attempt to avoid widespread friction on the eve of Ramadan;
Over the weekend, there were increasing voices who believe that the conditions for action have now matured, the purpose of which is to dry up, once again, this sector from terrorism, with an emphasis on arresting wanted persons and collecting weapons.
IDF operation in Jenin, Photo: IDF Spokesman
The main concern is the possible projection of such an operation on the rest of Judea and Samaria and also on Gaza and east of Jerusalem, which meanwhile remained calm even at the end of the first Friday of Ramadan. The original 20 years ago, the scene of excessive panic often turns out to be exaggerated, and the question that should resonate in the courtrooms is not "what will happen then" (there will be an extensive operation in Jenin), but "what will happen if not".
As of last night, it seemed that Israel would seek to continue skipping between the mines without being harmed.
This is also a complex challenge against the background of the high number of terrorist alerts - which has increased significantly, as always, after another successful attack - and therefore the excess investment in defense, in all sectors.
During the Passover holiday, a general closure of the territories will be announced, as every year and as part of the agreements with the Palestinians, but it is doubtful whether this will be enough;
Israel is saturated with illegal Palestinian residents, and in any case finds it difficult to completely seal the entrances to it.
It will require a significant financial investment to once again turn the seam space into a functioning and efficient barrier.
Outrageous escape
Another effort is now being invested in locating weapons between criminal and terrorist elements, in the West Bank and in Israel. The last three attacks marked a new-old terrorist trend: If the second intifada was characterized by suicide bombings, Multiple guns and pistols, which are plentiful on both sides of the Green Line.After the wave subsides, Israel will no longer be able to avoid intensive activities to locate and collect these weapons, which has become a significant threat, and requires extensive and coordinated action.
IDF operation in Jenin, Photo: Report
The electronic media has come under sharp criticism, some of which is justified in light of the exposure of forces and the resonance of rumors, but it does not absolve those responsible from responsibility.
Led by the police, the three defense spokesmen - the police, the IDF and the GSS - sent a letter to all the media on Tuesday, containing a series of allegations about the nature of the coverage and a demand for conclusions.
It was an outrageous escape from responsibility, especially on the part of the police, who simply did not function on Thursday evening;
Had she closed the area, as requested, and had she provided reliable and available information, the public would have been spared the photos and rumors that accompanied some of the broadcasts.
For those who think that in 2022 it is possible to control information or social networks, it is recommended to sober up.
In a democracy, the public has a right to know, and professionals have a duty to provide the information - with the required reservations of security and safety of information.
It did not happen (and caused damage) on Thursday evening, and it is no less noticeable in the absence of senior defense officials from the screens in recent weeks.
In times of crisis, the public is looking for information and someone to trust it;
It is worthwhile for the various speakers to return to this professionalism, before looking for culprits.
As a lesson from the attack, it is also necessary to re-examine the integration of soldiers in the police effort within the cities.
The appearance of fighters from special units running around Tel Aviv with weapons drawn was not to the liking of senior IDF officials, who criticized the messy management of the incident by the police. The issue will be discussed again in the coming days, Of soldiers in future police operations.
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