"What will happen now?" is the question that was being asked in nearly every Israeli home on Thursday night. After three recent terrorist attacks claimed the lives of 11 civilians, it looked as if calm had been restored. The police were trying to send the message that most Palestinians want to celebrate Ramadan peacefully. Police were instructed to contain provocations insofar as was possible, mainly at Damascus Gate in Jerusalem.
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Thursday evening's terrorist shooting in Tel Aviv is yet more proof that no reason is needed to murder Jews. This time, too, intelligence was lacking. The eyes of the police and other security branches were on Jerusalem. Some 3,000 police were deployed to the capital out of concern that violence might erupt following Friday prayers at the Temple Mount. The Tel Aviv attack, like the three that came before it, was a surprise. Who would have thought that in 2022, the police would be urging the public to shelter at home?
Israel's policy of containment was destined to fail. It's time to go on the offensive. This is no secret, but more and more senior security officials are saying behind closed doors that terrorist organizations see weakness in Israel's leadership. The question bandied about at difficult moments like these is how, even though the police are fanned out all over and the alert level is heightened, terrorist organizations are succeeding in their mission to spread fear and death among Israelis.
On Tuesday, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett visited the Judea Samaria Brigade and said, "The last two weeks, in which we have dealt with major terrorist attacks, are a wake-up call for all of us."
"We are determined not to allow this wave of terrorism pass by without addressing it, but wake up after years of neglect and fix what needs to be corrected," Bennett continued. The prime minister concluded by saying, "The terrorists' goal is not only to murder and kill, but also sow fear in Israelis' hearts."
Bennett said it, and he was right.
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