Heightened security following Dimona bombing
Roadblocks, police in population hubs and crackdowns on illegal Palestinian workers – as defense forces tighten security following Monday's suicide bombing, will Israel's cities lose the relative quiet they enjoyed through 2007. Meanwhile in southern Israel it's business as usual, with two rockets landing near Sderot Tuesday morning
After an extended period of calm in Israel's cities – save for those in the line of fire near Gaza – they will once again serve as a backdrop for regrettably familiar scenes of increased police presence, patrols and roadblocks.
In the day after the deadly suicide bombing in Dimona, the Shin Bet and IDF count over 50 terrorism alerts, nine of them specific and most related to the recent breach of Gaza's border at Rafah.
Police heightened security on a nationwide scale on Monday, with heavy reinforcements to the Seam Line, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and southern Israel.
Thousands of police officers, Border Police troopers, civilian volunteers and traffic policemen will be stationed in crowded population centers in an effort to deter potential terrorists and, in the event of an attack, provide an immediate response at the scene. Drivers should note there will likely be heavy traffic as a result of police activity.
As part of the effort, Border Police forces have been instructed to intensify searches for Palestinians who entered the country illegally (usually in search of employment). In the last 24 hours alone, forces have arrested 236 such Palestinians, who for the most part are not involved in terror. Five Israelis who were caught illegally employing Palestinian workers were arrested, as were three additional Israelis who are suspected of smuggling the workers across the border.
Meanwhile security forces continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Monday's bombing. The victim of the attack has been identified as 73-year-old Liuvoy Razdolskiya, a resident of Dimona. Razdolskiya's husband is still in serious condition at the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba.
There is a growing indication that the bombing originated in the West Bank and not Gaza, as was initially suspected. Media reports claimed that the two suicide bombers exited the West Bank though Hebron.
The identity of the organization behind the attack remains uncertain; three separate Palestinian groups have so far claimed responsibility. Hamas initially only offered praise for the bombing, calling it a "heroic act," but apparently claimed responsibility for the attack hours later. However in a conversation with Ynet on Monday night, senior Hamas officials denied their group was involved.
In the meantime southern Israel continues to suffer from daily attacks, with two Qassam rockets landing in the Sderot industrial zone on Tuesday morning. Several people were treated for shock, though no injuries were reported. Damage was caused to two factories.
Ali Waked, Shmulik Hadad, Yonat Atlas and Hanan Greenberg contributed to this report
