Bennett: We’re striking at the roots of terror — near and far, night and day
Prime Minister Naftali Bennett warned on Sunday that security services are operating “near and far” to strike against terrorism.
At the start of the weekly cabinet meeting, the premier offered a summary of the operations recently undertaken in the West Bank in the wake of the deadly terror attacks in Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak.
“Today and yesterday we carried out operations in Jenin, where the terrorist who carried out murders in Tel Aviv came from, and overnight we were operating in Ya’bad, where the terrorist who killed in Bnei Brak grew up,” Bennett said.
“At the same time, we are also operating in other enemy arenas, near and far, night and day, to strike at the roots of terrorism,” Bennett said. “We will reach anywhere necessary, at any time, in order to root out these terrorist operations.”
Bennett repeated that he has told the security forces that there are no restrictions on their operations.
“We will get at anyone who has had a direct or indirect connection to the attacks,” Bennett said. “The State of Israel is on the offensive.”
IDF vehicles in the Nur Shams Palestinian refugee camp on April 10,2022, during a raid looking for terror suspects (JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)
In addition to the Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak attacks, six people were killed last month in attacks in Hadera and Beersheba by Arab Israelis thought to have been inspired by Islamic State.
On Sunday, the government approved the establishment of a committee to examine the removal of state benefits such as pensions and other grants from the families of citizens who committed acts of terror.
A panel consisting of the directors of the Prime Minister’s Office, the Public Security Ministry, the Defense Ministry, the Justice Ministry, the Welfare Ministry and other officials will be convened to formulate a recommendation within 60 days of its establishment.
“We are determined… to change the equation so that it will not be worthwhile to take part in terrorist attacks against Israeli citizens,” said Bennett. “Providing benefits from the state to terrorist families is utterly absurd and it is time to redress the injustice.”
“The State of Israel will hold anyone accountable who has a direct or indirect connection to the terrorist attacks,” he added.
Such legislation has been introduced in the past but has not succeeded in passing the Knesset. It would also likely face a challenge in the Supreme Court.
Israeli security forces at the scene of a terror attack in Hadera, March 27, 2022. (Flash90)
The announcement and the premier’s comments came after Israeli security forces carried out large-scale raids on Sunday morning in Jenin, the nearby Palestinian village of Ya’bad and the Balata refugee camp near Nablus.
Ya’bad was the home of Palestinian terrorist Diaa Hamarsheh, who entered Israel illegally from the village and went on a shooting rampage in Bnei Brak, near Tel Aviv, on March 28, killing five people.
The Israel Defense Forces confirmed that special forces carried out searches for weapons in the area, and arrested eight Palestinians suspected of terror activity.
The military said forces found ammunition and one or more IDF uniforms at the home of one of the suspects, and an explosive device “to be used to carry out an attack” was seized at another home.
IDF soldiers are seen operating in the Nur Shams Palestinian refugee camp on April 10,2022, during a raid looking for terror suspects (JAAFAR ASHTIYEH / AFP)
During the raid, Palestinians clashed with troops, including opening fire and hurling explosive devices, according to the IDF. No Israeli soldiers were hurt.
The military said troops also operated in Jenin and Tulkarem overnight, arresting several others suspected of terror activity. The Tel Aviv attacker was from Jenin.
In Tulkarem, Israeli forces returned fire after Palestinian gunmen shot at soldiers from a vehicle, the IDF said. No troops were hurt in that incident either.
The Palestinian Authority Health Ministry said 11 Palestinians were wounded in clashes with Israeli soldiers across the West Bank. Four of those were wounded by live bullets — one in the Jenin area, two in Jericho, and one in Tulkarem. Most of the other wounded were lightly hurt by shrapnel or choked on tear gas.
On Saturday, Israeli forces raided the Jenin home of the terrorist who carried out the deadly shooting attack in Tel Aviv on Thursday night, killing three people. According to the Palestinian Authority Health Ministry, one Palestinian was killed and at least 13 others were wounded in the clashes.
The escalation has come ahead of and during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan — often a period of high tension in Israel and the West Bank. Israel has ramped up security measures in response to the attacks and deployed additional forces to the West Bank, Gaza border and major cities such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
Emanuel Fabian and Aaron Boxerman contributed to this report.