Between March 22–29, 2022 three terrorist attacks have been carried out in Israeli cities (Beersheba, Hadera, and Bnei Brak).
Except for a trend of inspiration and imitation, there’s lack of proof of a connection between the attacks, in which 11 people were killed (four in Beersheba, two in Hadera, and five in Bnei Brak). That said, several common characteristics can be noted:
- The attacks were all carried out in the heart of major cities in Israel, and it is clear that the terrorists knew the places of their activity.
- It seems that the attacks in Hadera and Bnei Brak were planned in advance. They were not spontaneous attacks, and weapons were used to kill as many people as possible.
- Two attacks were carried out by Arab citizens of Israel (from Hura and Umm al-Fahm), who were affiliated with the Islamic State, and the third by a Palestinian from the Jenin area, staying illegally in Israel. It’s unclear whether he belonged to the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades of Fatah or Hamas.
- There was no prior warning for the three attacks, which suggests these attacks were carried out by local organizations or there are problems with Israel’s intelligence coverage.
- Hamas and Islamic Jihad celebrated and praised the attacks, without taking responsibility.
Some important insights:
- Following the Guardian of the Walls Operation, Israel is facing a terrorist system that unites the arenas of conflict – Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, and Israel, – and connects the Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza Strip with Israeli Arabs. Therefore, Israel must act as much as possible to build a buffer between the areas and neutralize the ties between them.
- Hamas plays a “double game” – while trying to maintain a relative calm in the Gaza Strip, allowing the transfer of funds from Qatar, rehabilitating the Strip, and easing the border closure to allow for the departure of 20,000 Gazan workers to work in Israel, it incites and agitates the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Israeli Arabs without taking responsibility.
- Behind these remote attacks is Salah al-Aruri, who is in charge of Hamas’s military wing and activities in the West Bank, operating from Lebanon and Turkey. Last week, he met with Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in Beirut, to coordinate activities and to clarify that Hamas is focused on defending the al-Aqsa Mosque and Jerusalem and will work to prevent any rapprochement between Israel and an Arab or Muslim state. Israel at the very least should demand from Ankara to prevent Hamas from inciting terrorism.
This is an opportunity for Israel to change the rules of the game and focus on two vital national goals and they are (1) intensifying the campaign to collect illegal weapons held by Israeli Arabs, including increased enforcement and punishment for those who carry illegal weapons; and (2) a fundamental change in priorities in building the security forces, strengthening and increasing internal security forces – mainly the police and border police – and focusing general security on countering internal terrorism.
Between March 22–29, 2022 three terrorist attacks have been carried out in Israeli cities (Beersheba, Hadera, and Bnei Brak).
Except for a trend of inspiration and imitation, there’s lack of proof of a connection between the attacks, in which 11 people were killed (four in Beersheba, two in Hadera, and five in Bnei Brak). That said, several common characteristics can be noted:
Some important insights:
This is an opportunity for Israel to change the rules of the game and focus on two vital national goals and they are (1) intensifying the campaign to collect illegal weapons held by Israeli Arabs, including increased enforcement and punishment for those who carry illegal weapons; and (2) a fundamental change in priorities in building the security forces, strengthening and increasing internal security forces – mainly the police and border police – and focusing general security on countering internal terrorism.