Israeli security forces have noticed increased efforts by Hamas over the last few months to restore and reinvigorate its operational infrastructure in the West Bank. These include the resurrection of cells under the control of the movement’s military wing in Gaza and the establishment of a command hierarchy similar to what it had there during the second intifada (2000-05). Assessments that the West Bank is heating up have gained momentum in the wake of recent events.
On March 19, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) killed Omar Abu-Laila, who two days before had shot and killed Sergeant First Class Gal Keidan and Rabbi Achiad Ettinger in an attack near the Ariel settlement. On March 20, IDF soldiers shot to death two Palestinian youths after they tossed explosive devices from a vehicle at Israeli troops near Joseph’s Tomb, in Nablus. In addition, at the entrance to the village of al-Khadr, near Bethlehem, IDF soldiers killed a Palestinian youth whose family later said that he was not involved in any hostile activities and had been killed in cold blood. The IDF claimed that the young man had been throwing rocks at passing vehicles and says that the incident is under investigation. Even before this last incident, the various Palestinian factions had already called for a “day of rage” on the West Bank on March 22 and encouraged Palestinian youths to demonstrate and clash with IDF troops.
