The 'lone wolf' challenge
, עודכן
Israel's security forces will eventually get their hands on the terrorist who killed Danny Gonen and wounded another man northwest of Jerusalem Friday, but if the defense establishment's assessment prove true and this was the work of a terrorist who was operating alone, the manhunt may take longer than expected, increasing the risk he will strike again.
The "lone wolf" -- a terrorist who operates independently, often without confiding in anyone and without giving those around him any indication of his nefarious plans -- has become a top challenge for the defense establishment in recent years.
Despite their best efforts, the military and the Shin Bet security agency have yet to devise an effective way to predict the actions of an individual who suddenly deviates from his normal routine. This may have been the case Friday, and it would not be the first time Palestinians have left Ramadan prayers religiously motivated to carry out terrorist attacks.
The incident analysis indicates the terrorist was familiar with the sector, knew many Israelis bathed in the local spring and was lying in wait.
Recent years have seen a significant increase in Judea and Samaria tourism, and many youths visit the springs in the area, especially during the summer when Shabbat begins relatively late, and usually without coordinating their visits with the military.
These tourists are easy prey for terrorists. In the past, such attacks were carried out by terror cells, but the defense establishment tended over the weekend to reject Hamas' claim of responsibility, as the Gaza Strip's rulers suffer from infrastructural weakness across the West Bank.
Gonen was the second Israeli fatality in terrorist attacks that have taken place in Judea and Samaria and Jerusalem this year (the first was Shalom Yohai Sherki, killed in Jerusalem in April), compared to 19 fatalities in 2014, six of whom were gunned down.
Nevertheless, the defense establishment has recognized a gradual increase in terrorist activity in the area over the past few months, especially in stoning and Molotov cocktail attacks by lone terrorists.
The military does not believe this is an organized uptick and is therefore opposed to aggravating security measures in the area, as some settlers have demanded in the wake of Friday's attack.
The defense establishment has no intelligence indicating serious terrorist attacks are imminent, and concerns have been raised that imposing rigorous security measures during the month of Ramadan may upset the Palestinians to the point of provoking a security escalation.
Still, recent events obligate the military to take measures to increase the residents' sense of security. The Shin Bet, for its part, must spare no effort to capture the terrorist as soon as possible, both to bring him to justice and to thwart future attacks.
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