Shin Bet chief: an increase of 50% each year in terrorist attacks

Shin Bet Chief Yoram Cohen, appeared today (Tuesday) to the plenum of the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense. During his review, along with other senior figures, various issues were raised on the security agenda that are the responsibility of the General Security Service.

During the review deployed counterterrorism data and trends in terrorist attacks in recent years. So among other things, said that since the year 2012 increased by 50 percent each year in terrorist attacks popularly (683 attacks in 2012 versus 1834 terrorist attacks in 2014), while the most significant jump occurred during the operation "Preventive Edge". It also emerged that in 2014 130 terrorist organizations (mostly Hamas), were foiled, whereas up to now in 2015, 60 units have been thwarted. Etc. It was reported that the institutionalized terrorism having trouble making light of a sequence of targeted attacks carried out by the Shin Bet and the IDF in the West Bank. Popular attacks or a lone terrorist attacks has characterized the majority of terrorist activity over the past year.

Restraining factors in the West Bank, Israeli counterterrorist activities such as the economy is relatively stable, the public will maintain personal well-being, all these factors are more significant and effective in relation to the working destabilizing factors such as the lack of a political horizon, international triggers or Hamas efforts.

Security cooperation of the Palestinian Authority and Israel, allow the authority to survive in the face of Hamas activity in the West Bank. It also emerged that the activities of the international community, is a major factor shaping the reality on the ground. At this stage, the Palestinian population in Judea and Samaria focuses on the need to reach economic well-being, and is therefore relatively passive context of a possible confrontation. As for the activities of Abbas, it is evident that he is working for the preservation of its heritage, among other things, the promotion of unilateral measures and confrontational with Israel, the Security Council activity, the International Court of activity and activities designed to promote a boycott of Israel.

Head of Service referred to the gestures that Israel committed against the Palestinian Authority during Ramadan. Israel enabled significant easing the entry of worshipers to the Temple Mount, including the implementation of a security check by the Authority and lowering the age of worshipers. Some of the exemptions but not implemented by the Authority in light of the demonstrators against Israel.

Shin Bet chief spoke of the detention and noted that the organization operates in the same proportionate manner. The service uses the tool of administrative detention in certain situations. In any case, whenever is disposed of administrative detention, it accepts all certificates and pass legal review as required - including the Supreme Court. As for the Palestinians who work in Israel, Diskin said that anyone who receives a permit to work in Israel is usually not involved in terrorist activities.

As in the Gaza sector, stated that Hamas is in a strategic distress and there is erosion of the movement sovereign authority. As for the process of reconstruction of the Gaza Strip stressed that most of the money promised to rebuild the Gaza Strip were not actually, in part because of the conflict between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, and Hamas's unwillingness to allow the authority to control the crossings. All these undermine the will of donor countries invest money that may be lost.


The Chief noted that Israel promotes the rehabilitation of the Gaza Strip and in fact is the main factor that encourages and promotes the reconstruction of the Gaza Strip. It also emerged that the economic crisis in Gaza and the difficulty to rebuild the Gaza Strip after Operation "Preventive Edge", Hamas continues to control the Gaza Strip, either because of fear of him and because lack of organizational alternative as well as due to economic dependence on the organization.

Since the end of Operation "Preventive Edge", Hamas accelerates its military assessments for a further possible confrontation with Israel. Hamas's military buildup efforts since the end of the operation include rehabilitation of offensive tunnel project, renovation and development efforts of rocket production, increased training in the sea air and land as well as the continued effort for assistance from Iran. However, at this stage Hamas was not the right moment to act against Israel, but at this stage there is significant capacity to campaign against Israel, even if it has limited effectiveness. The Chief noted that Hamas diverts inputs for civil construction intended to rehabilitate its military system in favor of restoration of military bases destroyed during Preventive Edge."

Concerning cyber defense, said that until now there was not any damage to the country's critical infrastructure, on which is deposited in the GSS, opposing parties. The service continues to fulfill its mission as the Administrator of thwarting threats of espionage, sabotage and terrorism - even in cyberspace.

'בחדרי' גם ברשתות החברתיות - הצטרפו!