The military has deployed three additional battalions to Judea and Samaria Wednesday, over concerns that the spate of deadly attacks in the area signals a new wave of terrorism.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot ordered to bolster deployment on the ground following a security situation assessment held Wednesday. The military believes the Palestinians' motivation to carry out terrorist attacks is on the rise, inspired by the recent murders of Har Bracha resident Itamar Ben-Gal and Havat Gilad resident Rabbi Raziel Shevach.
IDF and Shin Bet security agency forces have carried out extensive counterterrorism activities across Judea and Samaria over the past few days, as part of the manhunt for Shevach's killer and the search for the terrorist who killed Ben-Gal.
Operations included raids on several Palestinian villages, where residents clashed with security forces. Military officials expect the riots to continue over the next few days. One defense official said that intelligence suggests that organized terrorist cells are planning attacks, and it stands to reason lone-wolf attacks are in the works as well.
Efforts to prevent these attacks will mandate increased Israeli military activity deep in Palestinian territory, which is likely to lead to friction. Violent riots could spell Palestinian casualties, something that is sure to fuel more violence.
The decision to bolster military presence on the ground seeks to prevent an escalation and increase operational flexibility, which will help security forces deal with Palestinian violence.
Past experience has shown that when small patrols face threats, they are more prone to using excessive force, leading to casualties and a near-inevitable escalation. A larger force, however, is naturally better equipped and harder to rattle, so it is less likely to use deadly force and provoke an undesired escalation.
Increasing deployment will also allow the IDF to significantly boost security on the precarious roads in Judea and Samaria.
Special deployment has also been ordered in known flashpoints ahead of Friday prayers, which are often followed by mass protests. The Palestinian security forces are expected to deal with rioters in the West Bank, but that has proven increasingly difficult for them in several refugee camps where the Palestinian Authority has encountered governability issues.
The IDF believes that if the next few days see little or no violence and be spared Israeli fatalities and Palestinian casualties, the Palestinians' motivation to carry out terrorist attacks will subside.
Still, the instability in Judea and Samaria is likely to continue over the Palestinians' growing economic and political frustration, and defense officials believe waves of violence will erupt with varying frequency, as domestic and international events dictate.
