West Bank Intifada Warning: Israel's Security Strategy

Defense Minister Israel Katz responded Monday to a stabbing attack at Havat Maoz in Samaria, wishing a speedy recovery to the wounded victim and pledging that the Israel Defense Forces would pursue and capture the assailant. Katz outlined Israel's current policy approach to the territory, which Israelis commonly refer to as Judea and Samaria. "Our policy in Judea and Samaria is clear: to vigorously pursue Palestinian terror, to develop and strengthen Jewish settlement, and to maintain security stability," the defense minister stated.

He added that terrorist activity in Judea and Samaria is currently at its lowest level in decades, and that authorities would take all necessary measures to prevent terrorism from resurging.

Katz's warning (Elad Malka, Ministry of Defense)

The defense minister issued a stark warning about potential escalation scenarios. Should Palestinian Authority security mechanisms or affiliated groups launch, or be confirmed to be preparing, a large-scale terror offensive similar to the October 7 attack against IDF forces or Israeli communities, Katz said he and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have instructed the military to prepare for comprehensive war. Such a campaign would target senior PA officials and their operational networks, as well as all terror infrastructure throughout Judea and Samaria, with the goal of achieving their swift and complete defeat, according to Katz's statement.

Katz emphasized that Israel would not tolerate a return to previous patterns of violence:

We will not allow a return to the reality of a prolonged intifada lasting years as happened in the past, but rather will open a comprehensive campaign against the Authority and all terror infrastructure in Judea and Samaria.

[Such an operation would include targeted killings of senior operatives, evacuation of residents from cities and villages serving as bases for terrorist activity, elimination of terrorists destruction of all local terror infrastructure, and continued IDF presence in cleared areas.]