Netanyahu orders massive counter-terror operation after bus bombings

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday night ordered the military to conduct a “massive” counter-terrorism operation in Judea and Samaria, after three buses exploded near Tel Aviv and bombs were found on two others in what is being investigated as a coordinated attack.There were no injuries as the explosions were apparently mistimed.Netanyahu also instructed the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) and Israel Police to step up “preventive activities” against possible additional attacks across the country.The Shin Bet on Friday arrested three people, including at least one Palestinian and one Jewish Israeli, suspected of driving a terrorist to the Tel Aviv area.The Palestinian suspect was in Israel illegally.The Shin Bet did not comment on the reports, citing the ongoing investigation.Following a situational assessment on Thursday, the IDF said its operations in Judea and Samaria were ongoing, and that areas within the territories have been closed off.IDF Chief of Staff Lt.

Gen.Herzi Halevi instructed forces to assist the Israel Police as necessary.The military also announced the deployment of three additional battalions to reinforce security in Judea and Samaria, adding that it was “prepared to expand the offensive operations.”All of the explosions on Thursday occurred in parked, empty buses across the central cities of Bat Yam and Holon, located south of Tel Aviv.

There were no injuries in the attack.At least one of the bombs bore a note, in Arabic and Hebrew, that stated, “Revenge from the Tulkarem refugee camp,” a reference to the terrorist hotbed in Samaria where security forces have been conducting operations, Channel 12 News reported.Five explosive devices, all with timers set to go off simultaneously, were found in what was intended to be a “strategic terrorist attack,” Channel 12 cited security sources as saying.The Shin Bet was called to the scenes, and all bus drivers in the Tel Aviv metropolitan were instructed to s...