Individual attacks
An IDF soldier sitting on a bus in Ramat Gan was stabbed in the neck Sunday by a Palestinian assailant, who then managed to get off the bus and run away. The security forces searched for him and caught him later.
This is another manifestation of individual terrorism that the terrorist organizations have been reduced to, because of the anti-terror measures that have been taken by the Israeli counter-terrorism forces. Several years ago we might have been hearing about 20 dead and 50 injured by a suicide bomb in such an attack on a bus. But, the Security Fence, the checkpoints, the arrests and targeted killings in the West Bank have severely reduced the terrorist threat, so that it is now much more difficult to smuggle suicide belts and bombs into Israel. Now they have to depend on individual terror attacks, and often when the culprit is found they are either mentally unstable or socially compromised (for example a woman who has been accused of adultery, etc.).
In another case nine Israeli Beduin men in their 20s were arrested in the Galilee town of Shfaram for initiating a plan to attack and kill Jews. They had already carried out a string of attacks, including knocking down light poles and burning tires in the road in order to block traffic and attack motorists with stones. Another separate group of Israeli Arabs was arrested in Galilee several weeks ago and the police found arms and suicide bombs in their houses. They said that they decided to do this in revenge for Operation Cast Lead, and they intended to kill Jews and kidnap soldiers. However, they were caught before they could carry out any attacks. This is what we have to contend with, although our security forces seem to be ahead of the terrorists at this point.
There were also several attacks using bulldozers and other road working machines, but hopefully the police have also closed off that option by enhancing security clearance for Arabs operating them and ensuring that they are "chained up" at night so that no terrorist can steal one.
While these attacks are certainly dangerous, and there have been a spate of them, nevertheless they are a manifestation of the success of the Israeli anti-terrorism program. So while the liberal-left in the West worry about Palestinians waiting at check-points, we Israelis worry that the checkpoints might be removed to satisfy some European MP who is seeking to earn favor with the anti-Israel public opinion back home or an American representative eager to curry favor with the Saudis.
This is another manifestation of individual terrorism that the terrorist organizations have been reduced to, because of the anti-terror measures that have been taken by the Israeli counter-terrorism forces. Several years ago we might have been hearing about 20 dead and 50 injured by a suicide bomb in such an attack on a bus. But, the Security Fence, the checkpoints, the arrests and targeted killings in the West Bank have severely reduced the terrorist threat, so that it is now much more difficult to smuggle suicide belts and bombs into Israel. Now they have to depend on individual terror attacks, and often when the culprit is found they are either mentally unstable or socially compromised (for example a woman who has been accused of adultery, etc.).
In another case nine Israeli Beduin men in their 20s were arrested in the Galilee town of Shfaram for initiating a plan to attack and kill Jews. They had already carried out a string of attacks, including knocking down light poles and burning tires in the road in order to block traffic and attack motorists with stones. Another separate group of Israeli Arabs was arrested in Galilee several weeks ago and the police found arms and suicide bombs in their houses. They said that they decided to do this in revenge for Operation Cast Lead, and they intended to kill Jews and kidnap soldiers. However, they were caught before they could carry out any attacks. This is what we have to contend with, although our security forces seem to be ahead of the terrorists at this point.
There were also several attacks using bulldozers and other road working machines, but hopefully the police have also closed off that option by enhancing security clearance for Arabs operating them and ensuring that they are "chained up" at night so that no terrorist can steal one.
While these attacks are certainly dangerous, and there have been a spate of them, nevertheless they are a manifestation of the success of the Israeli anti-terrorism program. So while the liberal-left in the West worry about Palestinians waiting at check-points, we Israelis worry that the checkpoints might be removed to satisfy some European MP who is seeking to earn favor with the anti-Israel public opinion back home or an American representative eager to curry favor with the Saudis.
posted by Jack Cohen at 11:04 AM
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