Amid renewed strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir announced today that a major bolstering of troops has been ordered for the West Bank. The Times of Israel reports that the move comes amid increased tensions in the area and the need for additional security during the High Holy Days.
Recently, the West Bank has seen an increase in violence, including the deadliest incident in months, when Palestinians attacked a group of hikers and took the weapons of a security guard accompanying them, killing six people.
Zamir said that because of the tensions in the West Bank and the upcoming Jewish holiday period, he was ordering the headquarters of a standing army division to be put on standby to reinforce troops in the area if required. A standing army division normally has tens of thousands of troops.
Normally, the West Bank has two divisions — the Judea and Samaria Division responsible for most of the territory and the 96th “Gilad” Division, tasked with the Jordan border.
“Beyond that, preparations must be made for the immediate deployment of units and battalions to reinforce the area,” he said.
Israel is not the only country concerned about safety during the High Holy Days. The U.S. State Department sent messages to embassies around the world, directing diplomats to call on their host governments to boost security outside synagogues. The U.S. sent similar messages last year ahead of Passover.
While the IDF will be on heightened security standby in the West Bank, military operations in Lebanon and Gaza are ongoing. Strikes against Hezbollah continued today after the terror group launched drones at troops last night. Terror infrastructure, including weapons depots and underground facilities, remains the target of these strikes. The IDF also reported that the bodyguard of a former Hamas chief was eliminated this week.
With a little more than two weeks until the High Holy Days, The Fellowship and our supporters pray for the safety of Jews in Israel and around the world as they prepare to observe this sacred time. We also pray for the IDF and all those working to keep them safe.