Jews in Judea and Samaria demand wider campaign against Palestinian terror

(JNS) - Hundreds of Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria gathered in protest at intersections throughout the territory on Sept. 3, demanding that the army launch a broad operation against Palestinian terrorism.

The rallies, called by the Yesha Council that represents the interests of the 500,000 or so Jews of Judea and Samaria, marked the first time that the group led mass protests against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government since its inception in December 2022.

"The residents of Judea and Samaria no longer rely on miracles," the announcement read. "A war is being waged in Judea and Samaria; the prime minister and the IDF should treat it as a war and fight the terrorist infrastructure in the Arab cities just as they fight in Gaza and Rafah!"

One protester from Gush Etzion in Judea, where Israeli forces thwarted a double car-bombing over the weekend, said that "just as they launched a military operation in Gaza, just like we are fighting the enemy in northern Samaria, we must fight in Hebron and this entire area."

"This fight is a fight for our very existence here," said Samaria Regional Council head Yossi Dagan. "It is inconceivable that while half of the residents of Judea and Samaria are mobilized in the north and south, the security of their families will be abandoned."

'Switch to a mindset of war'

Kedumim Mayor Oziel Vatik told Israel's Channel 14, "Everyone already understands that we can't continue the 'security routine' in Judea and Samaria. The State of Israel must immediately switch to a mindset of war, also in the face of the rising terrorism in Judea and Samaria.

On Aug. 18, a Palestinian terrorist hammered to death a resident of Kedumim in an industrial park located near the Samaria town.

"No more [military] operations with tweezers, but a systematic and prolonged war until the total eradication of terrorism," Vatik said.

The Israel Defense Forces has reportedly designated Judea and Samaria as a "combat zone" in light of the recent uptick in attacks.

Classified a "secondary arena" since the onset of the war with Hamas on Oct. 7, recent developments have convinced top officials that this stance is no longer tenable. The Israeli military considers Judea and Samaria as the most critical front after Gaza, Israel Hayom reported on Tuesday.

While the IDF directive is still in its initial stages, a series of military operations across Judea and Samaria are reportedly imminent.

The report came shortly after Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich urged the government and military to order a broad counterterrorism campaign throughout Judea and Samaria in the wake of the murder of three police officers in a drive-by shooting near Hebron on Sunday.

"We are one step away from Oct. 7 in Judea and Samaria," he warned, speaking from the site where Chief Inspector Arik Ben Eliyahu, Command Sgt. Maj. Hadas Branch and 1st Sgt. Roni Shakuri were killed.

In the first six months of 2024, Judea and Samaria saw more than 500 Arab terrorist attacks each month on average, according to figures published by Rescuers Without Borders (Hatzalah Judea and Samaria).

During that period, first responders recorded 3,272 acts of terrorism in the region, including 1,868 cases of rock-throwing, 456 attacks with Molotov cocktails, 299 explosive charges and 109 shootings.

Terrorists have killed 14 people and wounded more than 155 others in Judea and Samaria between January and July, the rescue group said.