Sukkot test: Tensions after the attack at the spring - and the goal set by the IDF ahead of the holiday
The IDF and security establishment are preparing at peak readiness for the Sukkot holiday in Judea and Samaria, against the backdrop of the attack at the Ein Ria spring where Natanel Shakron was murdered on the eve of Yom Kippur. The Central Command has set a central goal: to prevent at all costs a broad escalation beyond the Green Line. Thousands of hikers are expected to visit the area during the holiday, and the Chief of Staff has ordered massive reinforcements, including the deployment of an additional division headquarters.
The IDF and security establishment are entering the Sukkot holiday at peak readiness and operational preparedness not seen since the most complex periods, against the backdrop of the attack at the Ein Ria spring in Binyamin where Natanel Shakron was murdered on the eve of Yom Kippur. The Central Command and General Staff have set a clear goal: to prevent at all costs the development of a broad escalation beyond the Green Line. According to assessments, thousands of visitors, hikers, and families are expected to flock to tourist sites, communities, and main routes in Judea and Samaria during the holiday. Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir ordered massive reinforcements in all sectors within hours of the attack. The peak of the preparations is reflected in the decision to deploy an additional division headquarters as a reinforcement of forces in the field, which will operate in case of escalation and cover the sector from Jerusalem southward. The IDF has been warning for weeks of a significant escalation in Judea and Samaria. The article also covers immediate counterterrorism operations: during Yom Kippur, a significant attack planned by two Hamas terrorists in Kabatiya was foiled; in a raid on the town of Bidu, 100 buildings were searched and 90 suspects were questioned; in an operation in Beit Ur al-Tahta, a lathe for manufacturing weapons and two improvised Carlo submachine guns were found. The Judea and Samaria Division emphasizes the drone threat. Meanwhile, the funeral of Natanel Shakron is described, attended by hundreds. His son Yoav, who survived the attack, thanked his father: "Thank you for giving me life." His wife Meirav eulogized him. The terrorist, Qadri Samara, a 37-year-old Hamas operative, was arrested after being wounded by a tracker's fire and fleeing to a clinic in Ramallah. The investigation indicates he acted alone.