(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman)

During this past week, IDF forces continued operating against terror infrastructures in the regions of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley. IDF forces arrested 53 wanted Palestinians in the area, among them three Tanzim terror operatives who were involved in producing explosive devices. Additionally, nine explosive devices were detonated at IDF forces in Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley.

Three Israeli civilians were shot and wounded - severely, moderately and lightly - while hiking near the Israeli community of Halamish in Judea and Samaria. The wounded were initially treated on location and later evacuated by helicopter for further medical treatment in hospital.

On Tuesday (24 June 2008) during an overnight joint IDF and ISA activity in the Rafidia neighborhood in Nablus, the terrorist Tarek Ahmed Jumea Abu Jali, 24, a senior member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad terror organization in Jenin and the leader of a squad planning a car bomb terror attack that was thwarted, was killed. Abu Jali was killed in an exchange of fire that erupted when Israeli forces attempted to arrest him. 

Abu Jali manufactured explosives and explosive devices, directed cells to perform terror attacks in the area of Jenin, contributed to recruiting suicide bombers and planned to perform a terror attack in the near future. The force uncovered a large amount of weaponry in his apartment, including explosive devices, an AK-47 assault rifle, ammunition and other military equipment.

Ten road blocks were removed in the area of Ramallah this week. 100 road blocks have been removed thus far in the region of Judea, Samaria and the Jordan Valley as part of the relief plan, authorized by the Minister of Defense and the IDF Chief of Staff, and implemented in recent months.