After the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv last night (Thursday), in which three Israelis were killed and multiple injured, the IDF Chief of the General Staff, LTG Aviv Kohavi, held an operational situational assessment this morning (Friday). In attendance were the Deputy Chief of the General Staff, Head of the Operations Directorate, the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), Commander of the Central Command, and other IDF commanders.
The Chief of the General Staff instructed the immediate activation of several steps aimed to continue strengthening defensive efforts near the Judea and Samaria security barrier and increase counterterrorism activity in northern Samaria.
The Chief of the General Staff asserted that the IDF’s three main goals are: preventing attacks in Judea and Samaria, thwarting infiltration attempts by terrorists from Judea and Samaria and continuing to assist the Israel Police. In addition, LTG Kohavi ordered the following steps:
– Expanding and increasing operational activity in Judea and Samaria.
– Concentrating the IDF’s activity in northern Samaria and the villages the terrorists came from including those connected to them.
– Continuing to reinforce the Israel Police.
– Reinforcing the Judea and Samaria security barrier with special forces units, technological abilities and observation troops.
– Examining a possibility of reinforcing IDF soldiers with reserve duty troops, in accordance with the operational needs.
All of these counterterrorism efforts aim to thwart future terrorist attacks.
Following the situational assessment, the Chief of the General Staff spoke with the Minister of Defense and updated him on planned operational activities.
In addition, the Chief of the General Staff ordered an investigation into the intelligence and operational aspects related to the terrorist attack in Tel Aviv and to derive lessons from the manner in which the IDF assisted in the chase the and apprehension of the terrorist.