The war on terror in Judea and Samaria: A year and a quarter since the outbreak of the war – data on thwarting terror in the Gush Etzion sector is revealed.
Over 3,700 counter-terrorism operations were carried out by the Etzion Brigade since October 7, 2,800 of them in 2024 alone. In the past year, over 750 arrests were made.
According to the data, in 2023 and 2024, there is a 60 percent decrease in popular terrorism in the Etzion Brigade and a 20 percent decrease in terrorism.
In a special interview with the commander of Battalion 910, Lt. Col. (Res.) Shlomo Ohion, and the deputy commander of the Settlements Company, Capt. (Res.) Yehuda Kapach, they recount the extensive activities in the brigade's sector since the war broke out on October 7th.
"We have been in reserve duty since October 7th, over 400 days of reserve duty," Shlomo begins. "Every night we conduct an average of seven activities, which amounts to over 3,700 activities since the war broke out." According to him, this is three times more activities than in the year before October 7th.
On 7.10 in Judea and Samaria: "Whoever comes will get it"
"On October 7th, everyone jumped in without orders, we did some crazy activities here, we immediately acted with intensity against terrorism, we initiated a lot and carried out activities at a very high level," recalled Shlomo.
Yehuda adds that they did not identify a similar organization of Arabs on that day. "On the contrary, they were very scared. For 4 months, we laid a siege on the entire sector, no one went in or out."
"We are in a high state of readiness for a similar event in Judea and Samaria, the weaponry has significantly strengthened, and whoever comes will pay the price," Shlomo and Yehuda add.
Battalion 910, commanded by Shlomo, is responsible for the central part of Gush Etzion and is known as the southern shield of Jerusalem. In the brigade's sector, there are several historical sites, including Rachel's Tomb, as well as four refugee camps. "These places are not always quiet; we work very hard to thwart the terrorism that comes from there."
The connection with the residents in the sector: "Golden people"
According to Ohayon, his battalion operates daily to maintain freedom of action. He also adds that he is very connected to the sector and the settlement. "It's a settlement with golden people who respect us greatly with their kindness."
Yehuda adds about the cooperation with the settlements in the bloc. "We are responsible for several settlements simultaneously, but there are also the Hegmar departments that we work with hand in hand."
In recent years, dozens of new farms have been established in Judea and Samaria, safeguarding hundreds of thousands of acres of state land. "In our sector, there is one farm," says Shlomo. "We work to maintain order and prevent conflicts. In the end, there are Jews and non-Jews. I simply work to maintain order. The settlement here is relatively moderate, and we haven't encountered any extremism."
Bombing attacks: "Monitoring every small act of incitement"
In August of last year, a double bombing occurred at the Gush Etzion junction and at the entrance to the settlement of Karmei Tzur. Four people were injured, some moderately and some lightly, including the Gush Etzion Brigade Commander, Colonel Gal Ritz, who was lightly injured. Two weeks earlier, a car bomb exploded near Halhul, which was apparently intended to target Jews. A month later, a suspect was arrested in connection with the incident.
I ask Shlomo and Yehuda about the recent attacks that have greatly troubled the residents of the area, and in response, they say, "Our brigade has launched a very large operation to curb the incidents of explosives."
However, they note: "Today, anyone can make an improvised explosive device, you can't stop everything, there are events that are inevitable, we do monitor every small incitement activity even on social media and close the loop."
Also from the village of Beit Ummar, several shooting attacks towards the nearby settlement of Karmei Tzur have occurred in the past year, which ended without casualties. As a result, the IDF has dedicated an entire company to the village. "From the Arabs' perspective, Karmei Tzur disrupts their attempt to create a continuum between the village and Halhul, and therefore the terrorism emanating from there is on a larger scale than in other places," explains Yehuda.
After 17 years: A personal closure
About a week and a half ago, the IDF announced that after 17 years, the murderer of two IDF soldiers in 2007, Ahikam Amihai and David Rubin, may their memory be blessed, was arrested. The terrorist had fled and was in custody of the Palestinian Authority. Recently, it was discovered that he was being released from his place of imprisonment, and it was decided to arrest him.
Shlomo's battalion was part of the arrest. "We were on standby and ready with the vehicles if something went wrong." According to Ohayon, the message is that the IDF will reach anyone who harms Israelis. "That's the first thing they said to the terrorist when they arrested him, from terrorists who threw stones to printing houses that print posters supporting Hamas terrorists."
On a personal level, Shlomo was David Rubin's good friend. "It's very moving, but I don't have anything personal the moment I put on the uniform," Shlomo says about the arrest of the murderer.
"I understand that it was a bit more powerful, it moved me a lot, but in the end, the message is clear, we will reach everyone."
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