The IDF is pessimistic about the end of Operation Shavar Gwali in the near future. Although significant achievements were made in the last year, chief among them was the dismantling of the terrorist organization of the Lions' Den, but other factors are agitating the area and encouraging terrorist attacks.
Despite the Palestinian Authority's protest, the IDF continues its intense activity. This is evidenced by the high number of dead in January - 35 Palestinians, 95% of whom are terrorists. If this rate continues, 2023 will end with more deaths than last year, which recorded a record since the second intifada .
IDF activity in the refugee camp near Jericho, photo: IDF spokesman
At the moment, the IDF is not interested in expanding Operation Shaver Galim. However, the operation may expand if additional terrorist attacks occur. The fear of this is significant, as no significant decrease in the desire of Palestinian youths to engage in terrorist attacks has been detected.
between the net and the fence
Also, the IDF is aware that there are elements that wish to carry out terrorist attacks inside Israeli cities. Unlike in the past, today all the information to carry out attacks can be found on the Internet. Therefore, a lot of intelligence and advanced capabilities are needed to thwart terrorists. The operation in Jenin before For about a week and a half there was proof that the IDF is ready to operate even in the heart of the refugee camp in broad daylight when necessary, but the security establishment knows that there is no 100 percent success.
An example of this could be seen in the operation at the weekend in a refugee camp in Jericho.
Suspects have been arrested, but the terrorists who carried out the attempted attack at Almog Junction about a week ago have not yet been captured.
Burning tires in Jericho, photo: Reuters
In the meantime, the terrorist organizations Hamas and Islamic Jihad are fueling the area through online incitement and paying Palestinians to carry out shooting attacks.
The amounts range from NIS 2,000 to NIS 10,000.
And yet, the IDF is focusing on Jenin and Nablus while the rest of the Palestinian cities are relatively calm. The army is constantly engaged in upgrading the security fence in Samaria. The goal is to complete a significant part of the fence by the end of the year, which will allow troops to be transferred to additional missions.
The mechanism loses meaning
Despite the seizure of approximately 1,000 weapons in the Yosh, the area is saturated with weapons. Almost every Palestinian home has weapons, and thus terrorists can easily get their hands on them and go on a killing spree. The IDF is also concerned about the involvement of some members of the Palestinian Authority's security apparatus in terrorist attacks.
Shotguns, weapons and ammunition.
An illegal weapon seized as part of Operation "Breakwater", photo: IDF spokesperson
Against this background, a member of the Palestinian security apparatus who spoke to Israel Hayom described the low morale among the forces.
This is a trend that has been strengthening in recent times, at the same time as the authority's weakening and the escalation in the field.
"When they established the mechanisms, it was part of a big plan that would eventually lead to a state. The reason for the existence of the Palestinian Authority in the first place was to establish a Palestinian state. After all these years, there is an authority but no state, so why do we exist - to get salaries and take care of Abu Mazen's interests and be Agents of Israel? We have become subcontractors," said the man of the mechanisms.
Operation "Breaking the Waves": activity of IDF forces in Yosh / Credit: IDF Spokesman
A Palestinian source who spoke to "Israel Today" reinforced the words: "People who work in the mechanisms feel that there is no meaning to what they do, and that the Authority is slowly falling."
According to him, "If Israel, the Shin Bet and the Israeli security system are in control anyway - then it is better that there be no authority, and that other ways be found to manage affairs, that Israel take care of municipal services and garbage collection."
A former Palestinian security official told "Israel Hayom" that the security mechanisms have lost the great prestige they once had.
"Once upon a time, everyone wanted to be a part and mobilize. It was considered something big for them and also for the Palestinian issue. Today it is different, the image of the mechanisms has eroded, and it is less attractive to serve in them."
In the meantime, a delegation of the Islamic Jihad led by the organization's Secretary General Ziad Nachala met on Saturday in Cairo with senior Egyptian intelligence officials. According to a Palestinian source, this is a series of meetings and contacts that will continue over several days, during which the Egyptians will try to forge agreements with the Jihad leadership Regarding the reduction of the organization's activity in Yosh.
According to the source, the Egyptians demanded that Jihad calm down its operatives.
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