Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu toured the Samaria seam zone on Tuesday alongside Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Adviser Shmuel Ben-Ezra, and Central Command Chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth, issuing a stern warning about potential security escalations ahead of Israel’s upcoming general elections. During the field tour, Netanyahu disclosed active intelligence alerts concerning enemy plans to strike during this sensitive political window, stressing that the IDF is fully prepared even for a scenario involving “turned barrels”—referring to ‘Palestinian’ Authority security personnel turning their weapons against Israeli forces. According to Netanyahu, the military presented a comprehensive operational plan for such an eventuality, warning: “I strongly advise our enemies not to test us. You will encounter power you never dreamed of.”
Throughout the inspection, senior commanders from the IDF, Shin Bet (ISA), and Border Police briefed the prime minister on multilayered defensive deployments shielding Israeli communities adjoining the seam line, alongside offensive counter-terror operations executed inside nearby villages. These operations encompass targeted arrests of terrorist operatives, extensive munitions confiscations, and neutralizing immediate tactical threats.
Addressing initial operations around Tulkarm, Netanyahu stated: “I am here with the Defense Minister and IDF commanders along what is termed the seam zone. Behind me lies the former refugee camp of Tulkarm. It was a fortress of terror. Under our directive, the IDF entered, cleared it, and performed an outstanding operation—not only here.”
Netanyahu directly rebuked potential initiatives to permit evacuated residents back into the cleared camp perimeter, directly referencing ongoing petitions before the High Court of Justice: “I heard there are individuals in the High Court asserting that residents must be returned here. These are not residents; these are terrorists. The entity that will govern this territory and permanently remain in it is the Israel Defense Forces. There will be no Arab army west of the Jordan River; there will only be the Israel Defense Forces.”
Netanyahu continued: “One must comprehend our proximity: we are minutes from Netanya, minutes from the Mediterranean coastline. Israel’s narrow waist will no longer remain narrow. We stand guard from the Jordan River to the sea. Our country, our sovereign control.” Turning to intelligence warnings, the prime minister addressed military readiness surrounding the political campaign. He stated that hostile actors frequently attempt to capitalize on domestic political sensitivity to launch attacks against security personnel and civilians.
“Beyond that, I want to confirm to you that tangible alerts exist. Our adversaries believe they can test our resolve during these days leading up to the elections. I warn them that we stand fully prepared for any conceivable scenario, including what is termed ‘turned barrels.’ The IDF has presented a fierce and robust operational plan to the Defense Minister and me. In such an eventuality, I strongly urge our enemies not to test us. You will encounter might you never imagined.”
The prime minister concluded his tour by affirming enduring Israeli civilian and security presence throughout Judea and Samaria: “We will continue safeguarding Israel’s security here, along the seam line, and everywhere. We are establishing communities here—over 104—and numerous agricultural farms. We are actively protecting the security of the State of Israel.”