December 16th, 2005
IDF SPOKESPERSON UPDATE
A summary of this week's main events in Northern Samaria:

Friday, December 9th, 2005:
· Two metal cans filled with explosives and fixed with duck tape
were found in the possession of a 15-year-old Palestinian who arrived at the
Hawara crossing, south of Nablus, and was behaving in a suspicious manner.
Sappers detonated the two explosive devices. The Palestinian youth told the
forces he had intended to carry the explosive devices through to the other
side of the crossing.
· A 15cm long knife was uncovered in the possession of a
Palestinian who arrived at the Hawara crossing, south of Nablus. The knife
was confiscated and the Palestinian was taken for questioning by security
forces.
Sunday, December 11th, 2005:
· Two attempts of weaponry smuggling thwarted: [1] At a temporary
roadblock, west of Jenin, Border Police forces arrested a wanted Palestinian
and uncovered two pipe bombs in his vehicle. The man was arrested and taken
for questioning by security forces. [2] An ammunition belt for a light
machine gun was uncovered in a Palestinian vehicle by a Border Police force,
at a roadblock southeast of Jenin.
Monday, December 12th, 2005:
· A 16-year-old Palestinian arrived at the DCO "Salem" security
crossing. During his security check, the metal detector was activated. As
the Border Policeman approached to check him, the Palestinian youth pulled
out a knife and raised it in an attempt to stab the Border Policeman. The
Palestinian youth was detained by the force manning the crossing, and was
taken for questioning by security forces.
· Following a monitored indication of contact with the security
fence near the village of Kafin, west of Jenin, an IDF force arrived at the
scene to further inspect the matter. The force, which had heard an explosion
as it was arriving, found a burning car tire near the fence. Border Police
sappers identified the source of the explosion -- two pipe bombs and nails
which were concealed in the car tire and detonated against the fence while
the force was approaching.
· Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded by an explosive device
detonated by Palestinians against a force operating in Nablus. The soldiers
received initial medical treatment on location, and were evacuated for
further treatment at a hospital.
Tuesday, December 13th, 2005:
· Two IDF soldiers were lightly wounded as Palestinians threw an
explosive device at forces operating in western Nablus, as part of the
ongoing effort to combat the terror infrastructure in the city. In addition,
Palestinians opened fire at the forces, damaging two army vehicles. The
forces returned fire towards the gunmen.
· A knife was found in the possession of a Palestinian woman who
arrived at the Beit Eba checkpoint near Nablus. In her initial investigation
the woman admitted that she intended to stab soldiers at the checkpoint.
· Three Palestinians arrived at the Hawara checkpoint near Nablus
carrying 4 firebombs and a number of rifle bullets. The three were taken for
questioning by security forces, and the weaponry was confiscated.
Wednesday, December 14th, 2005:
· IDF forces, in cooperation with the ISA, uncovered an explosives
laboratory in the Massaken Sha'abiya neighborhood in Nablus, in the
residence of Sameh Samir Sa'id Iyad, who was arrested by IDF forces on
November 15th 2005. In the laboratory, forces found: an explosive belt which
was ready for use, a projectile rocket, 60 Kilograms of explosives, an
electronic system used for cellular activation of a network of explosive
devices, a small explosive device and a large quantity of raw materials used
for the manufacturing of explosives. The explosives laboratory was detonated
in a controlled manner by IDF sappers.
· A number of explosive devices, weighing several dozens of
kilograms, were uncovered in a well in the village of Kabatya, southeast of
Jenin. The explosives were detonated in a controlled manner by sappers. Four
wanted Islamic Jihad terrorists were arrested in the operation, during which
the Palestinians opened fire several times at the force and activated two
explosive devices. In addition, a Border Police officer was injured lightly
when Palestinians hurled firebombs and rocks at additional forces in the
area.

In light of these events, it is evident that the Islamic Jihad terror
infrastructure in the northern Samaria region is actively involved in
attempts to carry out terror attacks within Israel. Its actions force the
IDF to operate in the region in order to maintain the safety of the citizens
of Israel.