major events

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Military-Strategic Information Section // The Strategic Division

BI-WEEKLY UPDATE

APRIL 1ST – APRIL 20TH 2009



Major Events

A concerning increase in attacks and attempted attacks in the West Bank has been noted, accompanied by ongoing terrorist activity which includes smuggling, weapon production and attacks by isolated individuals. These attacks jeopardize recent achievements in the West Bank; Israel expects the PA to continue to act against the terrorist infrastructure, while maintaining ongoing security cooperation with the IDF.Gaza Strip – Smuggling through tunnels between Sinai and the Gaza Strip continues. The arms which have been discovered by Egyptian security forces, including the 230 mortar shells (April 12th) are only the tip of the iceberg and suggest the scope of the smuggling. The IDF continues its activities in the region, both by air and by ground forces near the security fence, to prevent attacks. Despite continued smuggling and attempted attacks, Israel continues to allow the transfer of supplies into the Gaza Strip through the humanitarian crossings. In the past two weeks alone, 36,650 tons of goods have been transferred. The Hezbollah ring which was exposed in Egypt emphasizes the Iranian military aid to the Hamas through the Hezbollah, while highlighting the regional tension between the moderates and those who choose the path of radicalism and terror in the Middle East.



Weekend Events – April 17th – 19th

• Approximately 200 Palestinians rioted and threw rocks towards IDF

forces in Bal'in. In response, the force used riot-dispersal gear towards

the rioters, killing a Palestinian. An American civilian was slightly

injured as well.

• During a vehicle assault a Palestinian ran over Israeli police officers

in Hizma. As a result 2 officers were injured – one moderately and the

other lightly. Israeli Police forces arrested the terrorist.

• A terrorist attack was thwarted in Beit Hagai – an Palestinian armed

with a knife infiltrated a settlement. In response, a civilian fired and

killed the terrorist. One civilian was lightly injured in the assault and

received medical care on scene.

Major Events – West Bank



• April 16th – 5 gas tanks and 4 bags of lethal explosives made of carbon

and potassium were turned in to IDF forces near Kalkilia.

• April 14th – 15th – A tank’s shell case, 10 cm in length, was turned in to

IDF forces during an operational activity in Salem. In a separate incident,

an improvised rifle and a 9 mm handgun were found by IDF forces during

operational activity in the village of Kuch’in.

• A Palestinian armed with an axe threatened a civilian near El Bira

(approximately 1 km north of Psagot). An IDF force in the aera thwarted

the potential attack and arrested the Palestinian.

• April 12th – A 90 mm shrapnel-type projectile and an explosive charge

were turned over IDF forces near Ariel.

• April 11th – ‘TNT’-type explosives weighing 18.5 kg, nitrogen and 12 kg

of potassium were turned over to IDF forces in the vicinity of Tul Karem

checkpoint.




• April 8th – 9th – A Belgian shell was turned in to IDF forces in Ariel. In

addition, an explosive lab containing 2 pipe bombs, 21 kg of explosives and

1 kg of gunpowder was discovered by the Palestinian police inside a

mosque in Kalkilia.

• A number of Palestinian rioted and threw stones at civilians at Beit Ayin.

As a result, a civilian was lightly injured and treated at the spot.

• April 7th - A number of Palestinian rioted and threw stones towards an

Israeli vehicle near Eli, causing the vehicle to slip off-track and crash into a

nearby pillar. As a result, the driver was lightly injured.

• April 6th – A mock-explosive was discovered by IDF forces during a patrol

near Feduel. In addition, a Palestinian carrying a knife was arrested by the

Israeli police in the vicinity of Kohav Ya’akov and Sha’ar Binyamin.

• April 5th – 2 handguns were discovered by IDF forces in Tel village

(approximately 4 km from Bracha).




Major Events – West Bank (Cont’d)

Weekend Events, April 3rd – 4th:

• April 4th – A terrorist attack was thwarted at a BGP base when a

female terrorist carrying a suspicious bag opened fire at a sentry at

the entrance of the BGP base, near Shoket junction. The force

returned fire, killing the terrorist. In an earlier case, 2 mock charges

were discovered by IDF forces during a patrol around the community

of Beit Hagai (in the area of Hebron).

• April 3rd – 2 Palestinians carrying knives were arrested by IDF forces

during a patrol in Bracha (in the Nablus area). In another incident, 2

Palestinians with a dagger in their possession were arrested near Beit

El. At the Ni’alin area, around 150 Palestinians rioted, throwing stones

and Molotov cocktails, similar to another case, in which Palestinians

threw rocks towards a mounted IDF patrol north of Karmey Tzur.




• April 2nd – A sixteen year old boy named Shlomo Nativ

was killed and a seven year old boy, Yair Gamliel, was

injured in an attack carried out by a terrorist carrying an

axe in the settlement of Bat-Ayin. IDF forces searched

neighboring villages extensively in search of the terrorist.

• April 1st – An RPG and 2 mortar shells were turned in to

IDF forces in the Hebron area. In another event in the

region, IDF forces arrested a Palestinian carrying a 7

cmknife. In addition, an explosive charge was hurled

towards IDF forces during a patrol near Einav.

THE INJURED BOY, YAIR GAMLIEL, HOSPITALIZED IN HADASA HOSPITAL IN JERUSALEM

IDF FORCES SEARCHING FOR THE TERRORIST

THE MURDERED BOY, SHLOMO NATIV R.I.P



• April 19th – 2 Qassam rockets were launched towards Israel.

• April 17th – A Qassam rocket was launched towards Israel and fell in an

open area around Kibbutz Be’eri.

• April 16th – A rocket hit an open area near Kibbutz Be’eri. In addition, the

IAF attacked a house rigged with explosives near Kissufim. It was reported

that the attack was a precise hit.

• April 14th – 15th – 2 smuggling tunnels were revealed by the Egyptian

security force in the vicinity of Rafah: the first is a meter wide and 4 meters

deep, and the other a meter wide and 3 meters deep. In addition, a rocket

was launched towards Israel and fell in an open space north of Kibbutz

Magen.

• April 13th – A Qassam rocket was launched towards Israel.

Major Events – Gaza Strip



Major Events – Gaza Strip (Cont’d)

An IDF soldier during a

operation near the

security fence in the

Gaza strip

April 4th – Several gunmen were identified planting an IED (improvised

explosive device) near the security fence in the northern Gaza Strip. An IDF

force arrived at the scene, fired at the gunmen and identified hitting two.

While searching the scene, the force uncovered a handgun, a cutter and

barbed wire. Later that day, 2 mortar shells were launched towards Israel

and fell in the vicinity of Karni. April 3rd – 2 tunnels were uncovered by the

Egyptian army in the vicinity of the Philadelphi

Corridor. One was 1m in radius and 3 meters

deep, the second 25cm radius and 2.5m deep. In

addition, 1 rocket and mortar shell was launched

during the night and today towards Israel.April 1st – A mortar shell was fired and landed in

an open area on Israeli territory.



Rockets and Mortar Hits in Israel (Since the IDF held its fire)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

18.1

31.1

6.2

14.2

19.2

26.2

2.3

8.3

12.3

17.3

21.3

25.3

29.3

2.4

6.4

10.4

14.4

18.4

Qassam Rockets Mortar Shells Grad Rockets



Border Police with the terrorist’s vehicle in Tzur Baker

• April 17th – A minor holding a knife attacked a number of Indian tourists

in Jerusalem. As a result, 1 of the tourists was lightly injured and taken to

“Sha’arei Tzedek” hospital. A Israeli police force arrived at the location of

the attack and arrested the suspect for interrogation.

• April 14 – 15 – A number of Palestinians created chaos by throwing

rocks towards a civilian bus near the Samson intersection. As a result 3

civilians were lightly injured.• April 7th – Vehicle Assault: a minor tried to run over border police in the village of “Tzur Bakar” while the house of the terrorist involved in the vehicle assault on February 7th was being destroyed. As result 3 policemen were lightly injured. The force opened fire, killing the terrorist. Later on, a number of Palestinians rioted, throwing rocks at border police in the area. As a result the commander of the force was lightly injured.

Additional Major Events



FN Rifle

•April 5th – 2 armed Lebanese were recognized near the border of the

Avivim Community. Israel presented

• April 4th – Lebanese men armed with hunting weapons were identified

near the border in the area of Kibbutz Yar’on, therefore Israel submitted a

violation to the UN.

• April 1st – 6 crates filled with weapons such as M-16, 24 FN rifles, Glocks,

Berettas and matching magazines were found by Israeli police forces at the

Rabin Crossing which connects between Jordan and Israel (about 3 km

north of Eilat). The weapons were confiscated by the force.

Additional Major Events



מעבר ארז

מעבר קרני

כיסופים

מעבר סופה

ישראל מספקת סיוע רפואי דרך מעבר ארז

ניסיונות הברחה של אמל"ח דרך המעברים )תמונת ארכיון(

April 1-20, 2009Supplies (tons): 36,650

Medical Evacuations: 131Fuel (liters): 5.98 million

Heating Gas (tons): 1,475

Humanitarian Support



Around the IDF

• In the beginning of the month a patrol battalion of

the Nahal regiment participated in a broad training

at the Alikim training base

•During the past two weeks the Nahal regiment has

been training in order to increase its preparedness

towards the Gaza strip.



THE CHIEF OF STAFF AND THE CHARIMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF, DURING THE CHIEF OF STAFF’S VISIT TO WASHINGTON,

JULY 2008

Around the IDF

• The IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Gabi Ashkenazi, left this

morning to Strasbourg, France, for a brief meeting with his

colleague, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Michael

Mullen.

Its purpose is to discuss issues of security that are shared

between the two countries and militaries.

• The GOC of the Southern Command,

Maj. Gen. Yoav Galant, visited and

presented gifts for Passover holiday to

the wounded soldiers from the “Cast

Lead” operation that are still

hospitalized at Tel Hashomer.

• At the ceremony for the 60th anniversary of

the Southern Command on April 5th in

Jerusalem, the GOC of the Southern

Command, Maj. Gen. Gadi Shamni awarded

the Urban Search Squadron of the Duvdevan

unit with a citation due to their success in

avoiding harm to Palestinian civilians during

operations.



THE IDF CHIEF OF

STAFF DURINGA VISIT TO“SHEBA”

HOSPITAL.AT THE

BOTTOM:SIGNING A

DONOR CARD.

THE IDF CHIEF OF STAFF GRANTING A CERTIFICATE OF EXCELLENCE TO THE COMMANDER OF THE “DUVDEVAN” UNIT, WHICH ACHIEVED THE CHIEF OF STAFF AWARD FOR EXCELLING UNITS IN THE OPERATIONAL ACTIVITY CATEGORY.

Around the IDF

• The IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG

Gabi Ashkenazi, granted certificates of

excellence to excelling units of the IDF.

• The IDF Chief of Staff visited 20 IDF

soldiers and officers who were wounded

during active military service in the IDF,

some during Operation Cast Lead. A few

days later, the Chief of Staff issued and

signed an “Adi” organ donor card in the

IDF Headquarters in Tel Aviv. “Adi” cards,

issued by the Adi Foundation, provide the

consent of their owner to donate his or her

organs in the case of their death.

major events

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