IDF activity increases as Ramadan winds down
Fearing copycat attacks similar to Friday's twin terror attack in Jerusalem, IDF forces are increasing operations in the West Bank ahead of the end of Ramadan in order to keep situation from escalating.
IDF and security forces always prepare in advance for the month of Ramadan, increasing their operations in the West Bank and east Jerusalem due to the high chances of renewed attacks.
Forces belonging to the IDF's Judea and Samaria Division have been instructed to raise their level of alertness as a result of Friday's attack, but thus far, there have been no restrictions on movements put on Palestinians within the West Bank, with the exception of the encirclement of Deir Abu Mash'al, near Ramallah, where the three terrorists came from.
The village has been marked by the IDF as a "violent area," where many operations have been carried out over the past year including confiscation of illegal vehicles, searches for illegal weapons and numerous arrests of terror suspects.
However, despite few restrictions within the West Bank as a result of the attack, some 250,000 entry visas for Palestinians have been cancelled and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the area around the Damascus Gate be declared a security area.
Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman leveled blame at the Palestinian Authority, saying, "We will continue to fight relentless Palestinian terror and the unbridled incitement that feeds it. We will pursue the perpetrators and instigators wherever they may be. The thunderous silence from the PA, which refuses to condemn terrorism, and the claims by Abbas that Israel murdered three innocent Palestinians, proves there is no partner on the other side."
Despite increased IDF activity in the area prior to Friday's terror attack, the three terrorists still managed to cross the West Bank and exit the village armed with guns and knives without being detected by security forces.
