Israel Aims to Stop Terrorism By Cutting Off Weapons

The Israeli police announced on Tuesday that they had located seven workshops used to manufacture weapons, firearms, cartridges and weapons' parts in Judea and Samaria (aka West Bank). 

Some say, what began as the knife intifada (uprising) last fall has been giving way to terror attacks using firearms.

Since the beginning of 2016, there were more than 30 terrorist attacks carried out with firearms, including the deadly attack on a trendy Tel Aviv restaurant area in June, killing four Israelis and wounding 16 others.  The assailants used a homemade weapon called the "Carlo", which has emerged as the weapon of choice for Palestinians.

According to the police spokesman's statement, the Israel Police and Shin Bet (secret service) have uncovered 29 workshops for manufacturing weapons, including 300 firearms, since the beginning of the year.

In the raid this week, two suspects were arrested for manufacturing and trading weapons, including a prominent arms dealer.  So far, 140 terrorists have been arrested for making and manufacturing weapons.

In an analysis in the Israeli daily Ha'aretz, Amos Harel wrote that the "war on guns in the West Bank has become a major part of Israel's counterterrorism effort."

Meanwhile, Israel marked two years since Operation Protective Edge – the war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip.

That operation started when Israel cracked down on Hamas in the West Bank after three Israeli teens were kidnapped and murdered by Palestinian terrorists.  Hamas unleashed massive rocket attacks on southern Israel and Israel responded with bombardments and eventually an incursion into Gaza.

Israeli President Reuven Rivlin visited the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip and said the south had returned to its daily routine (despite a rocket attack on Sderot over the weekend that drew a sharp response from the Israeli Air Force).

"We will not tolerate any disturbance of the quiet, and in the face of any such disturbance we will respond swiftly and firmly," Rivlin said of Israel's response.  

"We do not seek war. Yet, after having sat with our wonderful commanders, I know that if war is forced upon us, we have an army as ready and professional as could be asked. The plan that was presented to me reflects operational strength," Rivlin said.

Rivlin said Israel is not interested in an escalation and wants to live in peace but it's ready to "face any hostility" toward Israel.  

Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman also said Israel would not allow Hamas to rearm and to build tunnels.