Israel is currently dealing with one of the worst surges of terrorism in the country’s history. Amidst this terrorism, the country’s leaders and preparing the military for whatever might come next.

From The Wallstreet Journal. Israel is beefing up its military forces in the West Bank and carrying out a wave of arrests as its leaders grapple with the deadliest surge of terrorist attacks on the country’s soil in years.

View Comments (2)

At least 11 Israelis have died from three attacks in the past week. Fearing more, the Israeli military said it is sending 12 additional battalions into the West Bank—from where Tuesday’s attacker hailed—as well as two additional battalions to its border with the Gaza Strip and 15 companies of special forces to aid Israel’s police. Authorities said the police are suspending normal routines to focus on counterterrorism within Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett has put the country on crisis footing as calls grew for a strong response that could include major military operations. He called on Israelis to step up and help security forces defend the country….

The timing of the most recent attacks comes right before the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, when Israeli security forces have been worried about an escalation of violence between Israelis and Palestinians in the West Bank and Jerusalem. It also came as Israel hosted a first-ever summit this week in the Negev Desert that brought together American, Arab and Israeli diplomats, promising to boost economic and security ties and help build an alliance against Iran.

Tuesday’s attack, in which a Palestinian gunman killed five Israelis in central Israel and then was fatally shot by police, occurred on the eve of Land Day, when Palestinians commemorate the 1976 protests against the government’s expropriation of their land in northern Israel. Clashes between Palestinian protesters and Israeli security forces are common on this day.

Israel hoped to minimize tensions during Ramadan with a series of measures meant to improve economic conditions for Palestinians and ensure freedom of prayer. Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Wednesday those measures would continue, security permitting….

While Mr. Abbas made a rare condemnation of the attack on Tuesday, Al Aqsa Martyrs Bridge called it heroic and “a clear message written in blood responding to the summit in the occupied Negev.”

Israel and some Arab countries have been moving closer together, but peace negotiations with the Palestinians have stalled….

Israeli forces on Wednesday arrested five people suspected of aiding Tuesday’s gunman, including his brother, in his West Bank hometown of Ya’bad. Israeli forces also surveyed the gunman’s home to prepare for its possible demolition, a measure Mr. Bennett said would occur “as soon as possible in order to create deterrence.”

Ya’abad residents marched to the deceased gunman’s home to celebrate the shooting operation, hailing it as heroic….

Tensions have been building in the West Bank for months. This year, Israeli security forces have killed 25 Palestinians, including four who are citizens of Israel, in clashes, according to the U.N. and Palestinian Authority….

How are you praying for Israel? Share this article to raise awareness.

(Excerpt from The Wall Street Journal. Photo Credit: Getty Images)