Israel has recently sensed an increase in Iranian motivation to direct attempted attacks inside Israel, mainly in Judea and Samaria. Security discussions held in recent weeks indicate that Iran's motivation is expressed by bringing high-quality weapons into Israel (weapons and IEDs) and attempts to direct terrorist attacks.
Netanyahu in a Cabinet Speech: "Whoever harms us - we hurt him, and with great force" // Roy Avraham, GPO
A security source told Israel Hayom that Israel is "seeing an increase in attempted attacks from Iran," mainly in Judea and Samaria, but also in Gaza. Israel says it is Iranian activity stemming from "frustration" with the attacks attributed to Israel in Syria and from an attempt to undermine Israel's normalization efforts in the Middle East, especially Saudi Arabia.
Against the background of the increase in warnings of terrorist attacks, and during the holiday season in particular, a discussion was held yesterday morning (Sunday) with Defense Minister Galant, the IDF chief of staff and IDF generals in the Prime Minister's office, on what is happening in three sectors: Judea and Samaria, Gaza and Lebanon.
"There is one factor that connects all the sectors and that is Iranian involvement, which is waging a war of attrition here," he told Israel Hayom. The fact that these attempts do not make headlines is the result of extensive counterterrorism efforts that bear fruit on a daily basis.
The dilemma: whether to respond and how
Other sources confirmed the growing involvement of Iranian activity in Israel. Among other things, sources familiar with security discussions on Iran said that "there is a very high level of Iranian involvement that raises the eternal dilemma of whether and in what depth to respond to it."
Photo: Reuters // Soldiers of Iran's Revolutionary Guards,
IDF Chief of Staff, Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Galant, Photo: Haim Tzach/GPO
Among other things, Israel estimates that 80% of the funding to Hamas comes from Tehran, while in the West Bank the method of operation is the distribution of money and weapons in a "free" and unfocused manner, while weapons smuggling incidents through Jordan are also attributed to Iran. The increasing motivation, if concentrated in the window of opportunity created with Saudi Arabia, is intended to sabotage Israeli efforts, but senior officials claim that they do not see them as a real threat in this regard.
Despite the certain identification of Iranian involvement in the PFLP inside Israel, so far Israel has not acted directly vis-à-vis Tehran. That is why it is interesting that Mossad chief Dadi Barnea's remarks last month in which he pointed an accusing finger at Iran and for the first time put on the table the possibility of a strike back at Iran's heart.
Mossad Director Dadi Barnea, Photo: Haim Tzach/GPO
"So far, we have only reached the operatives and commanders responsible for carrying out the activities. I say from this podium that harming an Israeli or a Jew in any way, and I emphasize that in any way, will lead to action against the Iranians who launched the terrorists and also against decision makers – from the operation to the level that authorized the operation and to the terror unit, and I mean that. These prices will be charged with great precision deep inside Iran, in the heart of Tehran," Barnea said.
Gallant will discuss the issue in the US
Meanwhile, it was announced last night that the defense minister will meet with the US secretary of defense in October as part of an official visit to Washington. During their meeting, the two are expected to discuss Iran's growing activity in Israel and the possibilities of normalization with Saudi Arabia. "The two will discuss political challenges and opportunities in the Middle East."
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