IDF Halts Palestinian Security Updates Amid Leak Fears
Translated & summarized from Makor Rishon by baba
The IDF's Central Command has stopped updating Palestinian security forces before arrest and search operations in West Bank villages due to fears of leaks to terrorists. The decision, ordered by Maj. Gen. Avi Blott, follows a claim by activist Elisha Yered about a leaked operation plan. The military reports an increase in seized weapons since the change, attributing it to the new directive which clarifies an older protocol.
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- IDF's Central Command stopped updating Palestinian security forces on upcoming operations.
- The halt is due to fears that Palestinian officers leak information to terrorists.
- Maj. Gen. Avi Blott ordered the cessation of these pre-operation updates.
- An activist's claim about a leaked operation plan prompted the directive.
- The IDF reports an increase in seized weapons since the change.
The Commander of the Central Command, Major General Avi Blott, has ordered the IDF to cease updating Palestinian security forces before conducting arrest operations, weapons searches, and sweeps in Palestinian Authority villages. This decision stems from allegations that these updates are being leaked by Palestinian officers to terrorists, who then use the information to conceal weapons and evade capture. The military reports a subsequent increase in the amount of seized weaponry during operational activities.
Senior officials in the Central Command acknowledged that the directive was prompted by a claim made by right-wing activist Elisha Yered. Yered reported observing military vehicles and soldiers preparing to enter villages near the village of Dier Dibwan while he was driving on Route 60. Shortly thereafter, he saw a post on a local Arabic Telegram channel detailing the planned operation and the specific villages involved. Yered stated the post appeared about ten minutes before he spotted the forces, including their route before they entered the villages, suggesting intelligence leaks rather than mere observation.
This pertains to information shared under the "Shu'afim Folding" procedure, a protocol followed before IDF patrols intended to demonstrate presence in West Bank villages. The IDF stated that the directive to not update or "fold" Palestinian officers before such operations had always existed but had likely eroded over time. Major General Avi Blott has now clarified the distinctions between different scenarios and re-emphasized the existing guidelines.
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