The IDF, the Shin Bet, and border police made arrests in Jenin overnight between Sunday and Monday, for the first time since a massive Jenin operation in early July.
Although only two Hamas terrorists were arrested in the raid, the raid was significant because, for the past few weeks, the IDF has unofficially stayed out of Jenin to give the Palestinian Authority the opportunity to reassert its authority.
The Jerusalem Post understands that the IDF has been concerned about acting too much in Jenin, which could undermine the PA’s legitimacy there by making them look like they are working directly with the IDF.
At the same time, the IDF has been adamant that it would continue to act anywhere that the PA failed to act.
So far, indications are that the PA feels more comfortable arresting suspects and enforcing order in Jenin in general, which includes close to 40,000 people, versus in the Jenin refugee camp. The camp is a much smaller area, but also more volatile.
Palestinian gunmen speak at a press conference in the Jenin Refugee Camp, July 6. (credit: RANEEN SAWAFTA/REUTERS)It was unclear what the consequences of the IDF operation in Jenin would be for continued PA activities, but the Post understands that there are still various informal connections between the two sides, even when formal security cooperation is down.
Armed clashes between IDF and Palestinians
During the Jenin operation, an engineering vehicle got stuck due to a technical failure. The IDF was eventually able to move the vehicle out, though there was a firefight during part of that time.
Besides in Jenin, the IDF arrested 10 others in raids across the West Bank. Arrests were made in Naalin, el-Muir, Shiyuch, Izaria, and the al-Arouv refugee camp.
In some of the arrests in the various villages, there were rock and motolov cocktail throwings by some of the Palestinians.
The IDF used non-lethal crowd dispersal methods to facilitate the arrests.
In Mizra-al-sharkia and Beit Kahil, the IDF seized terror funds and weapons.
In Tubas, Palestinians fired on the IDF and threw improvised explosives at them.
Those arrested are being interrogated. There were no IDF injuries.
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