Residents living near the border are worried: In recent days, forces from the Jordan Valley and Valleys Brigade have been engaged in a broad operation in the armed villages of the Jordan Valley and northern Samaria. These operations target the terrorist squads of Hamas and Islamic Jihad, which operate under Iranian funding and protection. 

Iran aims to create a terror front in northern Samaria and to threaten Israel with attacks along the border and in the Judea and Samaria region. Over the past year, the IDF and the Shin Bet have managed to combat these terror squads operating in Tulkarm, which have carried out shootings and attacks in the central Sharon border area. 

The IDF has realized that most of the terrorists responsible for the shootings and attacks were motivated not by ideological reasons but by economic considerations. Accurate intelligence, ambushes, and surveillance have led to significant impacts on the terrorists and reduced the threat for now. The IDF is preparing for extreme scenarios of breaching the separation barrier and attempts to seize settlements in the border area. 

Recently, the David Division, a reserve unit established from lessons learned on October 7, has been activated to address these scenarios.

In recent months, the IDF has invested considerable resources to strengthen the barrier along the border. Alongside deploying large military forces to secure the border, efforts are underway to reinforce the physical barrier in specific areas to enable the IDF to optimally control movement channels. 

The IDF has carried out a series of actions to create a security space along the border, including the deployment of radars and observation systems. As mentioned, the IDF is conducting focused operations in the area, similar to the current operation in northern Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

Meanwhile, the panic among residents of cities near the border and the heightened fear stemming from the events of October 7, as we reported in Ma'ariv, is reinforced by the statements of Rafi Saar, Mayor of Kfar Saba and Chair of the Border Authorities Forum. He referred to the data, stating that "border communities have faced a daily threat over the past year, and we cannot remain indifferent. 

Recent events, such as the seizure of an RPG launcher in Jenin, highlight how tangible and severe the threat is. The state must take responsibility and act immediately to ensure the safety of the residents." 

According to him, local authorities are forced to cope with the dramatic increase in security expenses on their own. "The Kfar Saba municipality has increased its security budget by 8 million shekels this year, and we have invested an additional 30 million shekels to staff response teams, train emergency response classes, and bolster security in educational institutions. However, without significant assistance from the government, it will not be possible to sustain this struggle over time," he asserted. 

Following pressure from the Forum of Authorities, the IDF has reinforced its forces in the sector, including deploying companies from the Home Front Command and the Jordan Lions Battalion. The goal of these forces is to strengthen security circles within the communities, taking lessons from the events of October 7. 

However, local leaders emphasized that these measures are insufficient: "These actions are important, but they should not remain temporary solutions. A long-term solution is required to provide real security for residents," Saar concluded.

Photo: Reuters