Two suspected terrorists were arrested Monday evening on Highway 1 near the Latrun interchange on suspicion of involvement in planning an attack against Israeli civilians, police and the Shin Bet security agency said in a joint statement.
The arrests followed intelligence gathered by the Shin Bet, which led to the deployment of officers from the elite Yamam police counterterrorism unit alongside Shin Bet commandos. The forces located the suspects on Highway 1 and took them into custody. No security personnel were injured, and both suspects were transferred to the Shin Bet for further questioning.
Two security suspects arrested on Highway 1 near Jerusalem
The operation prompted a heavy security presence at several locations around Jerusalem, causing alarm among residents and motorists. Road closures and the arrests led to severe traffic congestion near the Latrun interchange.
The arrests came as the IDF announced heightened security measures ahead of Israel's October 27 elections. Earlier Monday, the military said Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir had ordered all units to suspend leave beginning Thursday, following a security assessment involving senior commanders and intelligence officials.
The assessment was attended by the heads of the IDF Operations and Military Intelligence directorates, as well as the commanders of the Northern, Central, Southern and Home Front commands.
Zamir stressed that the military's mission was to ensure the elections could take place "on schedule and safely." He said the IDF was on its highest level of alert and would maintain operational readiness across all fronts.
Additional measures include increasing the presence of senior officers at command centers, military headquarters and operational units to ensure forces remain prepared for potential security threats.