Shin Bet Official Briefs Cabinet on Declining Terror Wave

The Israeli Cabinet heard on Sunday a briefing from a senior Shin Bet official which confirmed a significant decline in the number and seriousness of terrorist attacks in recent days.

In March, he said, there were 20 major attacks, whereas last October there were 78. In the first ten days of April there have been three major attacks.

The overall decline in attacks has been brought about by counter-terror operations and particularly those targeting Hamas, which has been increasing its efforts to launch attacks, including abductions and suicide attacks, and by cutting down on incitement.

“All of these were in the context of an effort not to disrupt the fabric of life of a majority of the Palestinian population, which is not involved in terrorism, and to continue cooperation with the Palestinian security services,” he stressed.

In addition, the official claimed that Israel’s counter-terror measures have given the Palestinians (the lone-wolf types in particular) a sense that an escalation of the terror attacks would be futile.

Counting from the murder of Rabbi Eitan Henkin, Hy”d, and Na’ama Henkin, Hy”d, last October 1, in the last six months or so there have been 270 significant terror attacks and attempted attacks including shootings, stabbings and car rammings.

Some 29 Israelis and four foreign nationals were killed in the violence, with the total jumping to 34 when the murder of Avraham Levlovitz, Hy”d, by rock-throwing terrorists in the capital last September is factored in as well. Around 250 civilians have also been wounded in the terror wave.

The Shin Bet official briefing the Cabinet said that most attacks were conducted by isolated youths, claiming that while in some cases they attacked “for nationalistic motives,” they “mostly” attacked for “personal reasons” such as “economic or personal hardships.”

Aside from the isolated attacks, the official added that terror organizations and primarily Hamas have been trying to carry out major attacks in Yehudah and Shomron. Security forces have thwarted over 290 significant attacks since the start of 2015, including 25 abductions and 15 suicide attacks.

In conclusion, the security achievements notwithstanding, “considerable tension” remains, and “various elements (mainly Palestinian terrorists and others)…are working incessantly to undermine stability.”