Israel's Shin Bet Nabs Hamas Terror Cell Plotting To Kidnap IDF Soldiers

For those new to Shin Bet, it is the internal security service and counter-intelligence agency in Israel....a bit like a combination of our FBI and CIA...and they foiled quite a plot by Hamas regarding the planned abduction of IDF soldiers. The Shin Bet operation actually happened earlier this year but is just now being revealed.

Hamas of course are the culprits in the abduction of IDF soldier Gilad Shalit a number of years ago and apparently they wanted to repeat that except on a bigger scale.

From the story at The Jerusalem Post:

A Hamas terror cell in the West Bank was captured earlier this year for allegedly plotting to kidnap IDF soldiers and use them as bargaining chips in a bid to release Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) released for publication on Wednesday.

The cell consisted of three Hamas operatives, including a former member of the Palestinian Authority security forces who was arrested by Israel in 2006 and released last February for planning a similar scheme five years ago. Another member of the cell from the village of Bido was also released from Israeli prison last December.

According to the Shin Bet, the three Hamas operatives planned to purchase a plot of land in the Ramallah area and to dig a tunnel or cave underneath it in which they planned to store soldiers they planned to kidnap.

This shows how intent Hamas still is on getting those they want out of Israeli prisons - we know that one of the last negotiations for Gilad Shalit's release included HUNDREDS of palestinians to be released but Hamas has their eyes on some big fish that are behind Israeli bars.

Which brings me to the real interest in these plans to abduct IDF soldiers - Hamas is try to replicate the capture of the IDF's Goldwasser and Regev by Hezbollah where the end result was the Israelis releasing one of the most vile Lebanese prisoners held in Samir Kuntar. The whole event was humiliating to Israel in that they got the bodies of Goldwasser and Regev back only to find that they had been tortured and their dead bodies desecrated and in return, Hezbollah got back the killer of Jewish children.

This is what Hamas wants - they want enough IDF soldiers to force Israel to give up the biggest Pali terrorist leaders they have in prison - it's all about humiliation, it's all about the stage that has been set.

Thank G_d for Shin Bet. And as for the three captured Hamas...ummm...don't let them out again unless you plant a timed bomb inside of each of their bodies.

Shin Bet nabs Hamas terror cell planning kidnappings


A Hamas terror cell in the West Bank was captured earlier this year for allegedly plotting to kidnap IDF soldiers and use them as bargaining chips in a bid to release Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) released for publication on Wednesday.

The cell consisted of three Hamas operatives, including a former member of the Palestinian Authority security forces who was arrested by Israel in 2006 and released last February for planning a similar scheme five years ago. Another member of the cell from the village of Bido was also released from Israeli prison last December.

According to the Shin Bet, the three Hamas operatives planned to purchase a plot of land in the Ramallah area and to dig a tunnel or cave underneath it in which they planned to store soldiers they planned to kidnap.

One of the operatives was supposed to live in the house on top and care for the kidnapped soldier. The three were arrested in January and were charged in a military court last month.

IDF: "if war breaks out, Hezbollah will be able to launch between 500 and 600 rockets at Israel every day"

The IDF has submitted evidence, mouth-dropping evidence of just how busy Hezbollah has been since the last Israel-Lebanon War - the evidence shows bunkers and munitions installments and rocket deployments numbering in the tens of thousands, and remember, ALL of this violates the U.N. peace treaty that was signed ending the last war.

From the report at The Long War Journal:

The Israeli Defense Forces recently released a map detailing the location of more than 950 facilities, including bunkers, underground facilities, and weapons storage sites in southern Lebanon built by Hezbollah since the end of the Second Hezbollah War in the summer of 2006. Many of Hezbollah's facilities "are located near hospitals, private homes and schools," the IDF said. The map is reprinted below. From the IDF website:

The Hezbollah terrorist organization is spread out between as many as 1,000 facilities in southern Lebanon, located in 270 civilian villages. The organization continues to acquire munitions and strengthen, funded by Syria which is also smuggling weapons to it. This includes weapons which can reach populations in the center of Israel in cities like Tel Aviv.

According to IDF intelligence, since the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Hezbollah has built as many as 550 bunkers in the southern Lebanon region, holding various weapons. In addition, the organization has built 300 underground facilities and 100 storage units for munitions including rockets, missiles and other weapons.

Many of these terror centers are located near hospitals, private homes and schools, Hezbollah's way of taking advantage of the civilian population of Lebanon. According to the IDF Northern Command, Hezbollah militants have doubled in number since the end of the last war.

Today, Hezbollah is estimated to have an arsenal of more than 40,000 rockets. This being the case, if war breaks out, Hezbollah will be able to launch between 500 and 600 rockets at Israel every day. One of the organization's main civilian centers for storing munitions is the village of Al Khiyam in southern Lebanon, where hundreds of rockets and mortar shells with varying ranges are stored. More than 100 Hezbollah militants operate in the village, including special forces ready for combat with IDF soldiers.

Now, we all know that the United Nations and everybody else in the whole world could give a shit less about this evidence presented by the Israelis - Israel is on her own, especially at this time in history but I think the Israelis have made this information public because they truly fear that an attack is imminent - an attack by Hezbollah and Iran and Syria and perhaps others. By putting this out there, the IDF is telling Hezbollah that they know where their stuff is and that much of it can be taken out off the bat.

Many might say that the Israelis should have kept this quiet so they could use it as a surprise if Hezbollah did begin an attack - but we have to understand the Israelis...they realize they must do everything to AVOID an attack. I truly feel that the Israelis understand that this next skirmish with Hezbollah will not be like any before - there are too many enemies with substantial force just waiting for the shoe to drop. The Israelis need as much time as possible. In fact, I'd say the Israelis need about a year and a half and hope to hell that they have a new President in America who will actually have their back.

IDF map details more than 950 Hezbollah sites in southern Lebanon


The Israeli Defense Forces recently released a map detailing the location of more than 950 facilities, including bunkers, underground facilities, and weapons storage sites in southern Lebanon built by Hezbollah since the end of the Second Hezbollah War in the summer of 2006. Many of Hezbollah's facilities "are located near hospitals, private homes and schools," the IDF said. The map is reprinted below. From the IDF website:

The Hezbollah terrorist organization is spread out between as many as 1,000 facilities in southern Lebanon, located in 270 civilian villages. The organization continues to acquire munitions and strengthen, funded by Syria which is also smuggling weapons to it. This includes weapons which can reach populations in the center of Israel in cities like Tel Aviv.

According to IDF intelligence, since the end of the Second Lebanon War in 2006, Hezbollah has built as many as 550 bunkers in the southern Lebanon region, holding various weapons. In addition, the organization has built 300 underground facilities and 100 storage units for munitions including rockets, missiles and other weapons.

Many of these terror centers are located near hospitals, private homes and schools, Hezbollah's way of taking advantage of the civilian population of Lebanon. According to the IDF Northern Command, Hezbollah militants have doubled in number since the end of the last war.

Today, Hezbollah is estimated to have an arsenal of more than 40,000 rockets. This being the case, if war breaks out, Hezbollah will be able to launch between 500 and 600 rockets at Israel every day. One of the organization's main civilian centers for storing munitions is the village of Al Khiyam in southern Lebanon, where hundreds of rockets and mortar shells with varying ranges are stored. More than 100 Hezbollah militants operate in the village, including special forces ready for combat with IDF soldiers.

Hezbollah is thus trying to distort the balance of power in Lebanon and return to full, routine militant activity in southeast Lebanon, similar to its activity levels just prior to the war in 2006. Hezbollah militant activities are based in southern Lebanon, funded and maintained by Syria and Iran. All of these are in direct violation to the UN Security Council's 1701 decision, carried out on August 12th, 2006, at the end of the Second Lebanon War.

Right Hook To al Jazeera!

By Findalis

This video is from 2009 but it could have been yesterday or today.

Captain Avichai Adra'i  (IDF) is not only impressive in what he says, but in how he says it.  He speaks clearly and forcefully to the Muslim world.  No PC or Diplomatic double speak.  He basically reads the Muslim world the riot act.  On al Jazeera to boot.

H/T Elder of Ziyon

Israel Ignores Hamas Call for Ceasefire, IDF Takes Out Islamic Jihad Rocket Crew

While Hamas is scrambling to try and derail an Israeli military response to their terror actions and rocket attacks from Gaza, the IDF yesterday zeroed in on a rocket crew from the terror group Islamic Jihad and wiped them out killing two of the terrorists and wounding two others.

From the article at Israel National News:

The IDF scored direct hits on Islamic Jihad terrorists preparing to attack the Negev with more rockets Sunday morning, killng two terrorist and wounding two others.

On Saturday, terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza fired three rockets on the western Negev, causing damage but no injuries.

Hamas has offered another ceasefire on condition that the IDF does not strike. Several ceasefire declarations by Hamas over the past four years have been short-lived. The latest offer already has been rejected by Islamic Jihad terrorist leaders. Hamas, as the de facto ruler of the region, is responsible for all attacks from Gaza.

The Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency, which is linked to the Palestinian Authority, reported Saturday that factions in Gaza agreed “to commit to a truce with Israel if its military stopped attacking the coastal enclave.” However, the list of those agreeing to a ceasefire omitted Islamic Jihad. Half a dozen other terrorist groups, including Fatah’s terrorist wing, did not attend a meeting with Hamas leaders Saturday.

The lack of unity in Gaza reflects a statement by the head of the IDF Southern Command, Tal Russo, who said Saturday, "Gaza's terror organizations are in a state of anarchy, and that includes Hamas. They don't really talk to each other; they speak in artillery fire."

This is now a bad spot for Hamas - they have no control over the actions of Islamic Jihad and some of the smaller splinter terror groups in Gaza and Hamas knows that any rockets that go into Israel, no matter who fired them off, will be blamed on Hamas by the Israelis and thus, Hamas targets will be fair game.

Hamas is finding out that being the politically controlling entity in Gaza has its downsides.

Hopefully, the Israelis will push forward with retaliatory force this next week - it's my hope that precision attacks on Hamas leadership and known rocket crews will be consistent and lethal. Hamas doesn't need a ceasefire, what they are doing now is bitching amongst themselves that they may have gone too far this time and have awoken the IDF beast. It's time that Hamas pay another toll. A very heavy toll.

IDF Bombs Terrorists After ‘Ceasefire’ Offer and Rocket Attacks


The IDF scored direct hits on Islamic Jihad terrorists preparing to attack the Negev with more rockets Sunday morning, killng two terrorist and wounding two others.

On Saturday, terrorists in Hamas-controlled Gaza fired three rockets on the western Negev, causing damage but no injuries.

Hamas has offered another ceasefire on condition that the IDF does not strike. Several ceasefire declarations by Hamas over the past four years have been short-lived. The latest offer already has been rejected by Islamic Jihad terrorist leaders. Hamas, as the de facto ruler of the region, is responsible for all attacks from Gaza.

The Bethlehem-based Ma'an news agency, which is linked to the Palestinian Authority, reported Saturday that factions in Gaza agreed “to commit to a truce with Israel if its military stopped attacking the coastal enclave.” However, the list of those agreeing to a ceasefire omitted Islamic Jihad. Half a dozen other terrorist groups, including Fatah’s terrorist wing, did not attend a meeting with Hamas leaders Saturday.

The lack of unity in Gaza reflects a statement by the head of the IDF Southern Command, Tal Russo, who said Saturday, "Gaza's terror organizations are in a state of anarchy, and that includes Hamas. They don't really talk to each other; they speak in artillery fire."

Responding directly to the ceasefire offer, military spokespersons said Saturday night, “The Israeli defense system is pleased with the agreement of the Palestinian factions to stop the firing at Israel but emphasizes that the test of the agreement is in the field. A military source emphasized that Israel will not initiate an escalation of the situation if the quiet is maintained.”

Sunday’ morning’s attack on the terror cell preparing to fire rockets is a signal clear that Israel will not allow a ceasefire to prevent the IDF from stopping terrorist attacks.

Life under occupation :

It's Only A Lie If We Get Caught, And By Then It's Too Late

An (IDF) Israel Defence Forces' official press release, before media scrutiny :



The same IDF press release after media scrutiny, which amounted to two phone calls and a request for the evidence backing the claim to be provided to journalists. The IDF admitted they had no evidence, and so retracted the claim of 'Al Qaeda mercenaries'.

By then, of course, much of the western mainstream media had already published and aired official IDF propaganda.




It's no surprise, then, that the IDF and its spokespeople are making themselves very hard to reach now, for even the most well-resourced news organisations.

How many more outright lies have they bamboozled the media with about what happened during the Massacre In the Mediterranean?

How many in the media knowingly, willingly, then allowed themselves to be part of the monumentally failed attempt to bamboozle the majority of people who longer rely on the corporate mainstream media to tell them the truth?

Robert Fisk :

The amazing thing in all this is that so many Western journalists – and I'm including the BBC's pusillanimous coverage of the Gaza aid ships – are writing like Israeli journalists, while many Israeli journalists are writing about the killings with the courage that Western journalists should demonstrate.