The lessons of success

The capture of the terrorist cell that killed Rabbi Michael Mark on July 1 in the South Hebron Hills should not come as a surprise. Like in other cases, the Shin Bet security agency's control on the ground afforded a relatively rapid resolution, before the cell could strike again.

This success is based on absolute operation control on the ground, extensive intelligence, and the integration of sources and resources -- desk work, investigations, operations, and technology -- allows the Shin Bet to thwart the majority of terrorist attacks and quickly solve those that do take place.

This is also the reason for the steady decline in the number of terrorist attacks over the past few months: The actions taken by Shin Bet and IDF troops -- and the corresponding activities taken by the Palestinian security forces -- as well as diplomatic and political moves, such as barring MKs from visiting the Temple Mount, have been able to curtail the wave of terrorism that erupted last fall.

Unfortunately, this dominance highlights failures, namely the fact the terrorist cell that murdered Mark slipped under the Shin Bet's radar. Its members, former security prisoners, were known to authorities, and they were supposed to be monitored. The fact they were able not only to get weapons but to carry out a terrorist attack mandates a thorough investigation.

Such an investigation is necessary to determine both whether it was possible to thwart their attack, but also for future operational benefit. One of the most prominent phenomenon in terrorism is "copycats," as every successful attack immediately breeds a slew of imitations. This means that efforts to thwart terrorist attacks stretch beyond the immediate danger and into the future.

Meanwhile, public discourse is likely to once again focus on the price of the 2011 Schalit prisoner exchange deal, as the cell's driver was released as part of it.

With the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet slated to debate future prisoner exchange negotiation policies, this issue is bound to come up. It is doubtful the government -- any government -- would pass resolutions that would tie its hands in the future, and it is also doubtful that any such resolutions will temper terrorists' motivation. The Shin Bet has its work cut out for it.

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