A week before crucial Israeli elections, caretaker Prime Minister Yair Lapid, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, military chief Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi and Shin Bet Director Ronen Bar are facing an ever-intensifying dilemma. At issue is whether to beef up military and intelligence activity in the Palestinian city of Nablus in an effort to rein in a surging wave of anti-Israel violence and crack down on militant groupings, or wait until after the Nov. 1 voting.
However, circumstances have been overtaking the dilemma in recent days and leading to stark escalation. On the night of Oct. 24-25, Israeli troops and Shin Bet agents carried out what the military billed as “ground action” in Nablus.
