West Bank – Security forces arrested a number of residents of the West Bank city of Nablus overnight between Friday and Saturday, on suspicion of being linked to Thursday’s deadly shooting attack in which terrorists murdered Eitam and Na’ama Henkin in their car.
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The arrest operation was carried out by the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency together with the IDF and Israel Police. The forces moved into the Palestinian city, located some five kilometers northwest of the scene of the deadly terror shooting, and made several arrests of security suspects.
“In the past 24 hours, there has been a significant development in the investigation,” the Shin Bet revealed on Saturday evening. “The investigation continued, and a media ban is in place on all other details of the investigation,” it added.
Members of the Duvdevan special operations unit, together with the Border Police’s Counter-Terrorism Unit took part in the Nablus raids, which targeted suspected members of the terror cell that opened fire on the Israeli family.
The forces operated under the command of Samaria territorial brigade Commander, Col. Shai Kelper, and Judea and Samaria Division Commander, Brig.-Gen. Lior Carmeli.
The IDF has deployed four battalions to the West Bank to take part in searches for the terror cell, and respond to the deteriorating security situation.
The hunt for the terrorists is being led by the Shin Bet.
On Friday, Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon said large numbers of security forces are operating in Judea and Samaria to capture the perpetrators, who gunned down the parents in front of their children.
Ya’alon visited the scene of the shooting, near Itamar, and received briefings from IDF senior commanders and intelligence officials.
He was accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eisenkot, and the Shin Bet domestic intelligence chief, Yoram Cohen.
“We are here on the ground with many forces that are operating – the IDF and the Shin Bet – to place our hands on the murderers,” Ya’alon said.
“Sooner, I hope, and not later, we will place our hands on them, as we have done in past incidents. There is no doubt that this is a most severe incident. This is how we are treating it, and the actions on the ground are designed to prevent the next attack,” he said.
The current period is marked by an “eruption,” Ya’alon stated, adding that “this is, and is not, linked to the Temple Mount. It is unfortunately being accompanied by incitement from the Palestinian authority, particularly, from the head of the Palestinian Authority.”
The violent atmosphere “leads to murders and the spilling of blood. Hence, we are acting against those who are responsible for the incitement, and I hope we are able to stabilize the security situation soon.”
IDF units are beefing up their presence in Judea and Samaria in order to provide a solution to these types of attacks, Ya’alon said. The forces are there to stop rock throwing attacks and firebombings, as well as shootings, according to the defense minister.
“I hope that this extensive activity will lead to a calming of the security situation on the ground,” he said.
Overnight between Thursday ad Friday, suspected far right activists torched a Palestinian vehicle in the village of Beitilu, near Ramallah, and spray painted the words “revenge Henkin” on a Palestinian home. The Judea and Samaria Nationalistic Crimes Department is investigating.
Referring to the retaliatory attack, Ya’alon issued a call to the settler leaders and to residents of Judea and Samaria, to “act responsibly.”
“Violent acts like those that occurred yesterday are disruptive, also to the IDF, and they add fuel to the fire,” he said.
The defense minister received briefings from Operations Branch commander, Maj.-Gen. Nitzan Alon, the Central territorial Commander, Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa, the Judea and Samaria Division commander, Brig.-Gen. Lior Carmeli, and the Civil Administration commander, Brig.-Gen. David Menachem.
He was also briefed by Samaria territorial brigade commander, Col. Shai Kleper.
The IDF ordered four battalions to join existing military forces in the West Bank on Thursday in the wake of the terror attack.
The order came following a security evaluation held by the IDF General Staff on Thursday night.
The first of the extra units began arriving on Friday, to assist in searches for the terrorists and ensure IDF control of the area. Their mission also includes preventing a deterioration of the security situation.
The main focus of this stage of the defense establishment’s response will be on the intelligence front, a senior IDF said.
“There is certainly a change of atmosphere on the ground,” he added.
Additionally, the IDF surrounded a number of Palestinian villages in the vicinity of the attack to help the hunt for the terrorists.
while making the arrest save time and blow up their houses right then and there. Execute them later
This is an exercise in futility. Today two more Jews were killed. Until they declare war on Abbas, arrest him ad his accomplices and keep every Arab under lock and key til they sort out the terrorists we will continue to hear these stories R”L. Netanyahu gave a great speech about how Jews will no longer be passive with their enemies but it’s meaningless unless followed by real action on the ground. It may not be practical. But then don’t make meaningless pronouncements about Jewish pride.
They use the term the hunt for a terrorist they’re all terrorist