Police lift high state of alert in Bat Yam
Alert level in central Israel raised, large forces deployed in area for fear of terrorist infiltration; four suspects arrested, questioned
The police on Sunday lifted the heightened state of alert declared in central Israel after arresting four illegal Palestinian residents in the city of Bat Yam.
At around 9:15 am, the police raised the alert level in the Bat Yam and Holon area and deployed large forces in the two cities for fear of a terrorist infiltration. In addition, roadblocks were set up along the Seam Line and in central routes in the Tel Aviv area.
The police used a helicopter in a bid to locate the infiltrators. Four suspects were later arrested in Bat Yam and taken in for questioning.
The security checks at the roadblocks caused traffic jams in the Ayalon Freeway in the Bat Yam and Holon area. Magen David Adom emergency services reported that the organization raised its readiness in the greater Tel Aviv area to Alert Level A.
Last week, police feared that a female terrorist had infiltrated the northern city of Hadera, but the warning later turned out to be a false alarm.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing a woman roaming the city's streets carrying a bag. The police deployed large forces in the area, accompanied by a helicopter.
After searching the area, the Hadera police declared that nothing was found but that the forces remained on a heightened state of alert due to fears of terror attacks.
The alert level across the country was raised recently as Hizbullah marked 40 days since the assassination of its top commander Imad Mugniyah in Damascus.
During a memorial held in Beirut last week, the organization's Secretary-General Hassan Nasrallah said, "The Israelis are worried – let them remain that way. They must know that whoever murdered our commander will be punished."
Defense Minister Ehud Barak noted recently that Hizbullah may still carry out a terror attack to avenge Mugniyah's death. "We must be prepared and we are taking the proper measures," he said.
