Pressure is mounting for a military operation in northern Samaria: Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Galant held a series of situation assessments on Tuesday following the serious shooting attack in Ali, in which four people were murdered, against the background of strong pressure from right-wing elements to launch a large-scale military operation in northern Samaria.
As we revealed in Israel Hayom a few weeks ago, the issue of the large-scale operation in northern Samaria is on Minister Galant's desk, but there are differences of opinion in the defense establishment regarding the need and effectiveness of such an operation. Some security officials, including the Israel Security Agency and some of the IDF leadership, support this out of the understanding that in the end such an operation is inevitable, and it is preferable to carry it out before the number of Israeli casualties rises.
Four murdered in shooting attack at gas station near the community of Ali // Yoni Rikner
There is no doubt that the horrific attack in which the four Israelis were murdered brings Israel one step closer to a military operation in northern Samaria.
An initial investigation of the attack indicates that two terrorists went to the gas station near Ali and opened fire at civilians sitting in Hummusiya. As a result of the initial shooting, three civilians were killed, and then the terrorists came out of the hummus and shot and killed another civilian who was at the gas station. One of the terrorists was neutralized by an armed civilian at the scene and the other fled the scene using a motor vehicle belonging to one of the civilians who was at the scene.
The terrorists' vehicle in Ali, photo: TPS
Many forces were dispatched to the scene and carried out extensive blockades in the area, and the wounded were evacuated by helicopter to hospitals. Immediately after the incident, residents of Ali were asked to remain closed in their homes until it became clear that the fear of infiltration had been removed.
In the meantime, the forces located the vehicle with which the terrorist had fled, abandoned several kilometers from Tubas. The terrorist managed to reach Tubas, possibly by taxi, where the security forces managed to get their hands on him about an hour and a half after the attack.
A day after Jenin
The horrific attack took place a day after an IDF "panther" boarded an IED during the withdrawal of forces from an operation to arrest wanted persons near the Jenin refugee camp, and during its rescue the Palestinians fired at six other vehicles, disabling them. Five armed Palestinians were killed and dozens more wounded, and the security establishment was preparing for possible revenge by the Palestinians. Despite the preparations, however, two Hamas terrorists managed to carry out a deadly attack.
After the serious attack, there were calls for revenge from the settlers as well, and as mentioned, the right side of the government also called for an immediate military operation. IDF Spokesperson, Brigadier General Daniel Hagari. Called on citizens not to take the law into their own hands and allow security forces to deal with terrorism.
Three of the victims of the attack. Ofer Fairman, Elisha Antman and Harel Massoud, photo: Courtesy of the families
Even before the serious attack near Ali, the defense minister visited the wounded whose vehicle was loaded with an IED, saying: "I have instructed the defense establishment to take proactive and offensive action, wherever the lives of our civilians and forces are in danger. We will act in every necessary way and we will go everywhere in order to preserve our freedom of action, all options are on the table."
A few hours later, his statement was put to the test in light of the serious attack and the strong pressure from the right and from the residents of northern Samaria.
Opinions in the IDF are divided
From recent conversations, it seems that not all of the IDF leadership enthusiastically supports a large-scale operation in northern Judea and Samaria, but it is not at all certain that this can be avoided if the scope of the attacks has not dropped dramatically.
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It is no secret that in the twilight of Palestinian Authority Chairman Mahmoud Abbas, the PA's grip on the territory is weakening and the PA refrains from imposing law and order, especially in northern Samaria, Nablus and Jenin.
And when this is the case, quite a few terrorist elements outside Judea and Samaria try to take advantage of the situation to set the area on fire.
Hamas seeks differentiation
The defense establishment points to Iran as trying to encourage terrorist attacks, but also to the Hamas leadership in the Gaza Strip, which is interested in maintaining a security separation between Gaza and the West Bank, and directing attacks in the West Bank. After it became clear that at least one of the terrorists was affiliated with Hamas, the defense establishment will probably examine whether the attack was directed by the Hamas leadership.
The defense establishment has been discussing for a long time the question of whether it is right to play Hamas' game and not respond in Gaza after an attack carried out in Judea and Samaria, even if it is directed from the Gaza Strip.
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