The Judea and Samaria network operated under the leadership of senior PFLP members who directed the attacks that the various cells carried out.

Members of the PFLP are responsible for the terrorist bombing at the Danny Spring near Dolev that killed Rina Shnerb, 17, this past August, and left her father and brother seriously wounded.

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Members of the PFLP network arrested in the course of the operation include the head of the cell that perpetrated the attack that took Shnerb's life: Samer Arbid of Ramallah, who has already been in prison for terrorist activity on behalf of the organization. Arbid enlisted the other members of the cell, built, and set off the improvised bomb. Arbid was arrested along with Yazan Maghamas, 24, who was involved in several other attacks, and Qassem Shibli, 25, from the "terror village" of Kobar, who also carried out a number of shooting attacks.

When members of the Judea and Samaria network were interrogated, they revealed that it was behind a number of shooting attacks and was in the process of planning large-scale attacks for the near future. Israeli security personnel arrested some 50 members, including a senior official in the PFLP in Judea and Samaria, and seized a large stock of weapons that the terrorists had been holding.

The Shin Bet seized M16s and other types of assault rifles, handguns, silencers, and various types of fertilizer intended to be used in building bombs, as well as ammunition. Security personnel also found radios and batteries to be used to detonate explosives remotely. Much of the weapons had been stored in the home of a relative of Arbid.

The detainees provided the Shin Bet with information about the attacks that they had been planning and detailed the process of planning and executing the lethal Danny Spring attack. Cell members told investigators that they had begun collecting intelligence a few weeks before the attack and had visited the spring several times to scout the territory. Arbid reviewed and approved the final plan.

The interrogation also exposed additional acts of terrorism for which the PFLP in Judea and Samaria was responsible, including a shooting attack on an Israeli bus near the settlement of Ofra in December 2017 and a shooting attack on an Israeli car near Ariel in March of this year.

Many of the detainees have been indicted on serious charges, with more indictments expected to be filed.

A senior Shin Bet official said that the intelligence and investigative work had "thwarted terrorist attacks slated to be carried out in the near future."

According to the official, if the Shin Bet and the rest of the security forces had not managed to put their hands on the cell members, the planned attacks would have claimed numerous Israeli lives.

"The Shin Bet investigation exposed the real and present danger from Popular Front [terrorist] activity, as well as the security danger from the Popular Front's 'organizational' activity. The amount of weapons seized and the information we gained in the interrogation highlight how dangerous this network is and how prepared [they are] to carry out more, deadly terrorist attacks," he said.

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Shnerb's father and brother were seriously wounded in the attack.

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The home belongs to Yazen Hassin Hasni and is located in the Jams neighborhood of Bir Zeit, north of Ramallah.

Hasni, 25, is an active member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and lives in Ramallah. He has been arrested for involvement in terrorist activity and was part of the planning and execution of the bombing at Danny Spring.

Three other members of the terrorist cell behind the attack were arrested last month. The head of the cell, Samer Mina Salim Arbid, was hospitalized in serious condition during his interrogation.

All the terrorists hail from the Ramallah area and are active in the PFLP.

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The terrorists behind a deadly West Bank bombing attack last month killed Shnerb with an improvised explosive device when she visited a spring near Dolev in the Binyamin Regional Council with her father and brother, who were injured in the attack.

The perpetrators, who apparently set off the device using a remote mechanism while observing the area from afar, were arrested Saturday evening.

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The Shin Bet identified the three suspects in a statement released to the press: Samar Mina Salim Arbid, 44, of Ramallah; Kassam Al Karim Ragah Shabli, 25, from the West Bank village of Kfar Kobar; and 25-year-old Ramallah resident Yazan Hussein Hassani Magmas.

According to Israel's security services, Arbid is a senior official in the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine and has a long criminal history, including several arrests for making bombs and other terror-related activities during the Second Intifada (Palestinian uprising).

Believed to be the ringleader and the one responsible for detonating the explosive device that ultimately killed Rina Shnerb, Arbid was taken to a hospital following an interrogation by the Shin Bet, his attorney said hours after the arrest.

The Shin Bet confirmed that he received medical care because he did not feel well after his interrogation, but did not elaborate on his condition.

The Palestinian Authority is cooperating with Israeli forces as the manhunt continues for the culprit in the killing of 17-year-old Israeli girl Rina Shnerb, reports @benitalevin.
https://t.co/qgGaGLi6XX pic.twitter.com/0DWliDg8W9

— i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) August 25, 2019

At the time, the Gaza-based terror organization Hamas called the attack "proof of the vitality of our people, heroism and resilience in the face of the crimes and terrorism of the occupation."

This article was originally published by i24NEWS

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Shnerb's younger sister, 17-year-old Rina Shnerb, was killed in the attack.

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Dvir and his father, Eitan, were both evacuated by helicopter to Hadassah Ein Kerem Hospital in Jerusalem. Dvir was admitted to the hospital trauma unit in an induced coma and attached to a respirator. Immediately upon arrival, he underwent surgery to repair shrapnel wounds to his stomach.

After being stabilized, Dvir and Eitan remained hospitalized for a week.

Dvir expressed his thanks to the Hadassah Ein Kerem medical staff as well as to the first responders who arrived at the scene of the bombing. He will have come back to the hospital for follow-up visits and further medical treatment.

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In an open letter to Virginia Gamba, the UN Under Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict, Danon wrote, "Rina Shnerb had just celebrated her 17^th birthday a week prior to the incident."

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Danon said that Shnerb was walking to the spring, when a concealed roadside bomb hidden by terrorists detonated, killing her.

Danon pointed out that Shnerb was murdered only days after Dvir Sorek, 18, was stabbed to death by terrorists.

"Israel is extremely concerned about the growing trend of violent and murderous acts by Palestinian terrorists that … target Israeli children," Danon wrote to Gamba, adding that terrorist organizations such as Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad glorified such attacks.

After the news of Shnerb's death, Hamas lauded the attack, saying that it was a response to Israel's "aggression."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement saying the attack was "proof of the vitality and courage of the Palestinian people, who will not surrender to the crimes of the occupation."

He called the attack "a heroic act."

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"The reports that the terrorists who perpetrated the attack [near] Dolev were published without the Shin Bet's knowledge or approval. An investigation into the attack is underway, and we must wait until it is complete to issue official announcements," the Shin Bet message stated.

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Earlier Monday, former Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman tweeted that the terrorists responsible for Friday's roadside bomb attack had been arrested. Meanwhile, Palestinian media outlets reported that two Palestinians had been arrested during IDF operations in the village Kobar, north of Ramallah. The Palestinian reports tied the detainees to the Friday attack.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issued instructions on Monday to construct a new Israeli neighborhood in Judea and Samaria.

Netanyahu has ordered National Planning Council to approve 300 new housing units in a new neighborhood in Dolev.

"We will deepen our roots and strike our enemies," Netanyahu said. "We will continue to strengthen and develop the settlements."

The right-wing Yamina list (formerly the New Right) responded to Netanyahu's decision by saying he should convene the council immediately rather than waiting for its next scheduled meeting.

Parts of this article were originally published by i24NEWS. 

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The investigation into Friday's attack has been placed under a gag order, but according to available details, the explosive device used by the terrorist was planted ahead of time on a path known to draw many Israelis as well as Palestinians. This means that the cell was probably watching the area, to make sure they target Israelis.

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The IDF secures Danny Spring every Friday, to ensure the safety of those who bathe in it, and the terrorists were probably aware of that. The terrorists may have triggered the device when they did to allow themselves enough time to escape the scene before security forces arrived.

That investigation aside, the defense establishment must also look at the bigger picture and the rise in terrorism in Judea and Samaria, which cannot be ignored.

The fact that four terrorist attacks have taken place in Judea and Samaria in just two weeks indicates that motivation is high and is only getting higher, and defense officials have warned that copycat attacks may soon become more prevalent.

It is currently unknown whether the terrorists who murdered Shnerb mounted the attack independently or on orders from one of the Gaza Strip-based terrorist groups. This is a key issue that must be clarified because if they were doing an organization's bidding – particularly Hamas – Israel will not be able to look the other way.

Hamas has never made it a secret that it seeks to create terrorist infrastructure in the West Bank, but to actually have West Bank-operatives carry out a terrorist attack against Israelis – certainly a high-profile one – will leave Israel little choice on whether to retaliate.

Hamas is playing with fire and the flames could surge out of control at any moment, despite the fact that its leaders are trying to avoid an outright war.

Desperate to lift the blockade imposed on Gaza, Hamas' efforts with this respect are directly linked to the mitigation that Israel affords the Strip and, of course, the flow of Qatari money into the coastal enclave.

But the situation in Gaza is racing toward the point of no return, as is evident by the growing number of attempts to breach the border fence. Hamas security forces are trying to prevent such incidents, but much like in Judea and Samaria, this spells a gradual escalation: the situation on the ground is simmering, emotions are running high, mediation attempts are only partially successful and it seems that the slightest provocation – certainly in the form of a terrorist attack that claims civilian lives – could set the entire sector off.

Tensions are bubbling in Judea and Samaria, as well. The Palestinians see election season as a time of weakness on Israel's part, and this time, the election will be followed by the High Holidays. The IDF will need to do more than just reinforce its deployment on the ground, as will Israeli civilians, who must exercise extra caution.

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"Another savage attack by Palestinian terrorists kills an Israeli teenager enjoying time with her family. This isn't the path to peace, just endless suffering. May her memory be a blessing. Our prayers are with her family especially her father & brother also wounded in the attack," tweeted US special envoy to the Middle East Jason Greenblatt.

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Rina Shnerb, 17, of Lod, succumbed to her wounds after being critically wounded and treated at the scene. She was buried in her home city of Lod at 3:30 p.m., just one week after celebrating her birthday.

Her father, Eitan Shnerb, was conscious and in moderate condition, while his 19-year-old son, Dvir was out of surgery and remained in stable condition with injuries to his entire body.

The IDF called the attack "very serious," and said that an improvised explosive device was used. The police determined that the bomb had been planted there earlier and was triggered remotely when the family approached it.

Greenblatt also slammed the Palestinian terror group Hamas for praising the attack, while calling on the world to rethink aid to the Palestinian Authority, which routinely provides payments to terrorists and their families.

"Hamas praised 17 [year-old] Rina Shnerb's murder by Palestinian terrorists. The PA must unequivocally condemn this attack & the recent murder of 18 [year-old] Dvir Sorek. If they don't, donor countries should demand the PA answer for why their donor funds continue to be used to reward attacks," he tweeted.

US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman also tweeted that he was "heartbroken and outraged by the brutal terrorist attack. No words to describe the sadness of the moment as we grieve and pray for the injured to recover. May they receive God's blessings."

The attack occurred at the Danny Spring near Ein Buvin, a popular hiking spot several miles east of the city of Modiin.

Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations Chairman Arthur Stark and Executive Vice Chairman/CEO Malcolm Hoenlein issued a statement saying, "This is the latest in a series of terrorist attacks, including car-rammings, assaults, and stabbings. It is imperative that the Palestinian Authority extends its full security cooperation and provides the funding to security forces whose salaries have been cut, disincentivizing them. There must be decisive actions to stem the terrorism and the international community must be heard from, especially those who are so quick to criticize Israel for trying to protect its citizens."

The statement continued: "This vicious act, using an explosive device, comes a day after [PA President Mahmoud] Abbas once again reasserted his commitment to the 'pay to slay' program, rewarding those engaged in the kinds of terror attacks witnessed today and in recent days and inciting further outrage by providing lifetime funding for the perpetrators or their families."

Reprinted with permission from JNS.org.

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Lod resident Rina Shnerb, 17, was killed in the attack, and her father, 46, and 19-year-old brother were seriously wounded when an explosive device was triggered as the family was visiting the Danny Spring near the settlement of Dolev in the Binyamin Regional Council in Samaria.

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Several arrests were made over the weekend in connection with the attack. An IDF official said that the military was also looking at footage from a number of surveillance cameras in the area.

"The IDF, Shin Bet [security agency] and Israel Police are coordinating a wide-scale operational and intelligence effort to apprehend the perpetrators of this heinous attack" IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi said in a statement on Friday.

"I am confident in our ability to find them and to provide local residents with a high quality security solution," he said.

On Friday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to find the terrorists who targeted the family.

"Security forces are sparing no effort to find these heinous terrorists. We will find them. Israel's reach is long and we will settle the score with all who wish to harm us," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Hamas lauded the attack, saying it was a response to Israel's "aggression."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement saying that the attack was "proof of the vitality and courage of the Palestinian people, who will not surrender to the crimes of the occupation."

He called the attack "a heroic act."

Top Hamas official Mahmoud al-Zahar urged Palestinians to carry out more terrorist attacks.

"There is no future for the occupation and its settlers in Palestine. I call for more acts of sacrifice in the West Bank and for the development of more resistance instruments in Gaza so that we can realize our people's goal and return to our land," he said.

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Lod resident Rina Shnerb, 17, sustained mortal wounds in the terrorist attack and died at the scene. Her father, Eitan, and brother, Dvir, both suffered serious wounds.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is also the defense minister, was scheduled to meet with security officials on Friday afternoon.

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"I offer Rina Shnerb's family my deepest condolences and wish the wounded a speedy recovery. We will continue to bolster the settlement enterprise and we will strike our enemy down. Security forces are sparing no effort to find these heinous terrorists. We will find them. Israel's reach is long and we will settle the score with all who wish to harm us," Netanyahu said in a statement.

Hamas lauded the attack, saying it was a response to Israel's "aggression."

Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh issued a statement saying the attack was "proof of the vitality and courage of the Palestinian people, who will not surrender to the crimes of the occupation."

He called the attack "a heroic act."

According to initial reports, the attack occurred at the Danny Spring near Ein Buvin. Officials at the scene said that the explosives were apparently planted on the path leading up to the spring and were triggered as they were walking down the path.

Magen David Adom emergency services personnel were scrambled to the scene to provide first aid. Because the spot is difficult to access, MDA paramedics moved the father, 46, and his 19-year-old son to a spot where military helicopters were waiting. They were then airlifted to Hadassah Ein Kerem Medical Center in Jerusalem.

Magen David Adom reported on Twitter that the son had sustained multiple injuries to his abdomen and extremities. He was unconscious and on a respirator, MDA said. The father's condition was later upgraded to moderate.

Security forces and emergency medical personnel were at the scene of the suspected IED bombing near Dolev on Friday after initial reports of the explosion were received, and a large contingent of security forces fanned out in the area following reports of a car that was seen driving away from the scene of the blast.

Security forces were sweeping the area for suspects, with a focus on the area around Ramallah.

Residents of Dolev were under orders from security officials to remain indoors and report any suspicious activity.

In an interview to Channel 12 News, Habayit Hayehudi MK Moti Yogev, a resident of Dolev, described the spring as "full of life" and flowing water all year round, even in the summer.

Yogev said that hundreds of Israelis visit the spring, as well as the many other springs throughout Judea and Samaria, on Fridays and holidays. Israelis who visit the area are usually instructed to arm themselves and inform security forces of their destination.

"But the Arabs show up and bring death to a place full of life. No Jew has ever attacked an Arab there," Yogev said.

Israel must strengthen its deterrence by strengthening settlements, Yogev said.

Yisrael Gantz, head of the Binyamin Regional Council, spoke to Israeli media at the scene of the attack and called on Israel to apply sovereignty in Judea and Samaria.

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