BICOM

What happened: The IDF entered Jenin early this morning with the aim of arresting two wanted suspects.

• Israeli media reported that one of the suspects included Azzam Abu al-Hjja, the son of a senior Hamas official, Jamal Abu al-Hija, who is imprisoned in Israel.
• During the raid a massive exchange of fire took place between the forces and armed gunmen in the area.
• In addition, explosive devices were thrown at an IDF armoured vehicle, with unconfirmed reports suggesting five or six soldiers were wounded.
• In order to extricate the IDF troops a helicopter gunship was deployed targeting armed gunmen and allowing for evacuation of the injured troops.
• According to Palestinian sources, three Palestinians were killed, with over thirty wounded.

Context: Helicopter gunships have not been deployed in combat in the West Bank since the Second Intifada, over twenty years ago.

• It was not planned to be used in this morning’s operation, but was deemed a necessary response following the targeting of an IDF vehicles.
• Palestinian sources claimed that powerful IEDs (improvised explosive devices) were planted in the ground beforehand and were detonated as the Israeli forces were leaving the area.
• So far this year over 120 Palestinians have been killed, the vast majority armed combatants.
• In parallel today, a delegation of senior Hamas officials, led by Ismail Haniyeh, are visiting Tehran and expected to meet with senior Iranian officials.

Wider regional threats: Speaking at yesterday’s weekly cabinet meeting Prime Minister Netanyahu once more highlighted that his government’s top priority is to “stop the nuclearisation of Iran.“

• Netanyahu reiterated that he has expressed his opposition to US officials that any agreement, “will only pave Iran’s way to a bomb and line its pockets with hundreds of billions of dollars.”
• Adding, “We have also told them that the most limited understandings, what are termed ‘mini-agreements’, do not, in our view, serve the goal and we are opposed to them as well. In any case, we have made it clear, and I reiterate, the State of Israel will do whatever it needs to, with its own means, to defend itself from Iranian aggression both in the nuclear sphere and, of course, through its use of terrorist proxies.”
• On Friday, Minister of Defence Yoav Gallant met with US Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Brussels. The meeting focused on improving military cooperation between the two countries.
• In the background the New York Times has been reporting that the US is looking to reach an unofficial and unwritten agreement with Iran. According to the understandings:
  • Iran will undertake not to enrich uranium beyond 60%.
  • Not to attack US assets in Syria or Iraq.
  • Not to sell ballistic missiles to Russia.
  • In return, the US will refrain from imposing stricter sanctions and will unfreeze Iranian assets worth billions of dollars.
  • The US also expects Iran to reinstate monitoring of Iranian nuclear sites.
• From Israel’s perspective any deal that does not dismantle Iran’s nuclear capacity leaves them as a potential threshold nuclear state.
• Israel is also concerned that if Iran receives the reported 20 billion dollars from their frozen assets, some of the money will go to Hezbollah, Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad.

Looking ahead: Operation Breakwater, launched two years, is likely to continue its regular incursions into the West Bank, in the absence of Palestinian Authority security forces’ ability to combat extremist elements.

• US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf will visit the region this week and is expected to meet Israeli, Palestinian Authority and Jordanian officials.
• Following the Gallant – Austin meeting, more joint miliary exercises between the IDF and US Central Command are expected to take place.
• Gallant and Austin also agreed to increase intelligence cooperation relating to Iran.