Israeli officials confirmed Wednesday that a “large-scale” terror attack was thwarted just hours before citizens were poised to celebrate the Jewish State’s 70-year anniversary.
Israeli guards and soldiers stopped the explosives-packed truck at a northern West Bank border crossing on Independence Day; discovering the bomb-material hidden in the vehicle’s roof, air conditioning system, and engine.
According to the Times of Israel, police managed to diffuse the bomb without incident; preventing a devastating terror attack that could have killed thousands.
המשאית במעבר ריחן שנעצרה על ידי הבודקים הביטחוניים של רשות המעברים במשרד הביטחון- המטען נמצא בגג המשאית. pic.twitter.com/rjIFnCSnDj
— יוחאי עופר (@yochaiofer) April 18, 2018
Defense Minister Liberman praised the nation’s military and law enforcement; saying their “vigilance and professionalism” led to “the exposure of an explosive device and to the thwarting of a large-scale terror attack on our 70th Independence Day.”
“We will chase down the bastards who planned to harm our celebration,” he wrote on Twitter.
ISRAEL ON EDGE: Thousands of Palestinians PROTEST, Multiple Fatalities Reported
Hundreds of injuries and multiple fatalities are reported after thousands of Palestinians launched a massive protest against Israeli forces Friday; attacking a border fence in the Hamas-controlled territory of Gaza.
According to the Times of Israel, at least seven people were killed in the clashes ahead of the Jewish holiday of Passover, with Israeli Defense Forces estimating over 20,000 demonstrators launched what they described as a “March of Return.”
In response to violent riots along the security fence in the Gaza Strip, GOC of the Southern Command, Maj. Gen. Eyal Zamir said: "We're identifying attempts to carry out terror attacks under the disguise of riots. We urge Gazans to stay away & warn the Hamas terror organization."
— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 30, 2018
“The army said organizers of the protests were deliberately trying to place civilians in harm’s way, and cited an incident in which it said a seven-year-old girl was sent to the security fence in an apparent cynical attempt to draw Israeli fire,” writes the Times.
The demonstrations are the largest protests seen in the region since President Trump officially declared Jerusalem the capital of Israel; sparking protests throughout Palestinian territory as well as other major cities in the Middle East.
BOILING POINT: Syria Threatens ISRAEL with ‘Surprise’ Attacks
Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime issued a direct threat to Israel on Tuesday, warning the region’s only democracy of “more surprises” should their air force continue to operate over Syrian territory, reports Reuters.
The threat comes just days after the Syrian military -armed with equipment from Iran- shot down an Israel F16 fighter jet; prompting a fierce response from the Israeli military which immediately destroyed the anti-air battery.
“Have full confidence the aggressor will be greatly surprised because it thought this war – this war of attrition Syria has been exposed to for years – had made it incapable of confronting attacks,” said Assistant Foreign Minister Ayman Sussan.
“God willing, they will see more surprises whenever they try to attack Syria,” he added.
Syria’s direct threat follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s tough talk towards both the Iranian and Syrian regime; saying, “We will continue to harm anyone who tries to harm us. This was our policy and this will remain our policy.”