The Iran-backed Palestinian terror group Hamas will “no doubt” try to launch terror attacks on Israel during the upcoming Passover holiday, the head of Israel’s internal security agency told the Knesset’s influential Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee on Monday.
“We are just before the Passover holiday, and there is no doubt that terrorist infrastructures, mostly the established one, and specifically Hamas, will try to agitate the area and carry out attacks,” Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman testified.
“Our goal, of course, is to ensure quiet holidays for every citizen of the State of Israel,” he added.
It is not uncommon for Israeli security agencies to warn of increased terror risks prior to holidays. Jews often go up to the Temple Mount before holidays, prompting Palestinian claims that Jews are “storming” their holy places. Arrested terrorists often cite concern over the Temple Mount as a motivation for their attacks. Families who go on hikes and other outings can also be targeted.
Due to these concerns, the Israel Defense Forces closes crossing between Israel and the West Bank during major Jewish holidays.
Argaman, who was appointed to lead the Shin Bet last May, also said that his agency has been improving its ability to prevent “lone wolf” attacks, which were frequent during the “wave of terror” in late 2015 and early 2016. The Shin Bet arrested 400 would-be lone wolf attackers last year, Argaman revealed.
Stark warning from Shin Bet chief during Knesset appearance: Hamas has significantly stepped up efforts to carry out mass-casualty terrorism
— Yaakov Lappin (@YaakovLappin) March 20, 2017
Shin Bet chief speaks of breakthrough in ability to track and thwart lone wolf terrorists. 400 would-be lone attackers arrested as a result
— Yaakov Lappin (@YaakovLappin) March 20, 2017
This is what Shin Bet thwarted in 2016: 184 shootings, 16 suicide bombings, 16 kidnappings, 86 vehicle and stabbing attacks.
— Yaakov Lappin (@YaakovLappin) March 20, 2017
[Photo: Niv Aharonson / WikiCommons ]