The IDF, in a summary of its activities in Judea and Samaria over the course of 2013, counted 62 terror attacks, in comparison with 35 attacks over the course of 2012. The volume of attacks has increased considerably over 2013, however the IDF points out that this is still nowhere close to amount of attacks Israel suffered during the Second Intifada. It is of significance to point out that when citing these numbers the IDF does not take into consideration the potentially-lethal stone and Molotov cocktail attacks which the Israeli residents of Judea and Samaria are attacked with daily.

The attacks of 2013 were characterized by the advent of the ‘lone assailant’, terrorists who are not part of a broader infrastructure or existing terror network. Most of the perpetrators have been captured by the security forces. “This shows that we do our outmost to catch those who try to harm us,” stated a senior officer, who remained unnamed, of the Judea and Samaria Division said.

There has been an increase of criminal incursions into communities in Judea and Samaria. One of the causes for this is the dire financial state in the Palestinian Authority. Another reason is the general sense of stability which enables the thieves more self-confidence. “The more the situation is stable the less intimidated invaders feel and the less threatened they feel while prowling around the communities. We treat every incursion as a terrorist attacks,” the officer added.

The report stresses that the attacks mentioned are not a part of a broader so-called popular uprising. “There is an increase, but it is moderate and under control,” the officer explained.

“An Intifada consists of a much higher volume and intensity of attacks,” the officer explained. “There are disturbances, but in a broader perspective we are nowhere close to where we were during the Second Intifada. We don’t expect an escalation in the near future,” he concluded.