A terror cell arrested overnight Thursday in Jenin was planning to assassinate Defense Minister Israel Katz during the inauguration ceremony of the community of Ganim in northern Samaria, according to suspicions. The ceremony was attended by other senior Israeli officials, including Minister Shlomo Karhi, MK Yuli Edelstein, and Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan.
2+The dramatic intelligence reached the Shin Bet, Israel’s internal security agency, yesterday evening and was immediately passed to the Yamam, the national counter-terrorism unit. According to the suspicion, the three terrorists, described as members of a trained cell, were preparing to carry out the attack this morning—during the ceremony with the defense minister in attendance. Once the intelligence came in, a race against time began. Within just a few hours, Yamam commandos were rushed to the Jenin area, completed a hasty combat briefing, and got the green light to launch the thwarting operation.
2+In radio silence and with precise timing, the commandos simultaneously raided three different homes in Jenin where the cell members were staying. All three terrorists surrendered and were arrested before they could arm themselves with weapons, and were transferred to Shin Bet interrogation. Authorities are also considering the possibility that the terrorists planned to raid the new communities and carry out a massacre there. Sitting in the operational command post were Border Police Commander Brig. Gen. Yitzhak Brick; Judea and Samaria Border Police Commander; Deputy Commissioner Nisu Guetta; and Yamam Commander Deputy Commissioner A.
2+The IDF said in a statement: “Last night, Yamam commandos—the State of Israel’s national counter-terrorism unit—operated with precise intelligence guidance from the Shin Bet and under the leadership of the Menashe Brigade to arrest wanted individuals involved in terrorist activity in Jenin who, according to suspicion, planned to carry out an attack in the immediate timeframe. A force of Yamam commandos reached the building where the wanted individuals were hiding, broke into the building, and arrested all three wanted individuals. The wanted individuals were transferred for continued Shin Bet interrogation.”
Samaria Governor Yossi Dagan said in his statement: “The attempt to target specifically the establishment ceremony of Ganim proves just how deeply the enemy understands the strategic significance of returning to Northern Samaria. They understand that strong Jewish settlement changes the reality and strengthens the security of the State of Israel. Our answer is clear: we will not be deterred and we will not stop. 21 years after the expulsion, today we returned to Ganim, and we will build even more settlements in Northern Samaria. Where terror tries to strike us, we will strike back with force, build more, settle more, and deepen our roots. Terror will not dictate where Jews live in the Land of Israel.”