Explosive Devices Discovered, Supporting Suspicion of Terror Attempt 29 Dec 2009

Yesterday morning, Monday December 28th, IDF engineering personnel detonated three explosive devices, discovered late Friday night, December 25th, when four Palestinian suspects were identified crawling near the northern Gaza security fence in a suspected attempt to infiltrate Israel and execute a terror attack. The explosives were found along with a rope ladder during searches that followed the incident, firmly supporting the suspicion that the infiltrators intended to cross into Israel and execute a terror attack.

During the incident soldiers fired toward the suspects, who continued to move towards the security fence. In addition, the forces directed an aerial attack against the suspects. Three of the suspects were killed and one was injured.

The IDF would like to emphasize that in the past there has been terrorist activity along the security fence in Gaza, including infiltration attempts, gunfire against Israeli civilians and IDF soldiers, as well as the planting of explosive devices. Due to such incidents, the IDF remains cautious.

Season’s Greetings from the IDF

21 December 2009

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrWHyZAo82U]

Lt. Col. Avital Leibovitch, head of the Foreign Press Branch of the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit, takes a moment to recognize the variety of peoples who serve in the Israel Defense Force and to wish them all a happy holiday season – whichever holiday they may celebrate.

The diversity of soldiers in the IDF includes over a thousand Christian and Bedouin volunteers. Moreover, 2.8% of all males in mandatory service are Druze. Whether one is Jewish, Muslim, Christian or Druze, the IDF is grateful to all those who contribute to and support the state of Israel. May we all enjoy a joyous new season and a hopeful new year!

Islamic Jihad Operative Arrested in Nablus, 8 Dec 2009

Wanted Islamic Jihad Operative Arrested Last Night in Nablus
8 December 2009

Last night, in a joint Israel Defense Forces and Israel Security Agency (ISA) operation, Zalach Mahmad Zalach Buchari, a wanted Islamic Jihad operative was arrested in Nablus.

Buchri, born in 1973, was a wanted suspect for the past seven years due to his involvement in the Islamic Jihad terror organization.

The suspect was an active Islamic Jihad operative responsible for planning a suicide bombing in the Tel Aviv central bus station in January 2002. In this terror attack 28 civilians were wounded, three of them were critically injured and one of them suffered mild injuries.

In 2003, Buchari recruited another suicide bomber to carry out an attack within Israel, which was thwarted by security forces at the last minute.

Bucahri was also involved in activities against Israel Defense Forces soldiers. In 2002 he attempted to carry out a car bombing and to detonate large explosives against IDF soldiers.

Between 2002-2003, Buchari planned to abduct Israeli soldiers and to construct an explosives-manufacturing lab inside Israeli territory.

Seven years ago, Zalach Mahmad Zalach Buchari went into hiding in Nablus for fear of being arrested. Last night he was arrested in his apartment and transferred to the custody of the ISA.

IDF Soldier Killed During Diving Exercise, 7 Dec 2009

IDF Soldier Killed During Diving Exercise

7 December 2009

Overnight, IDF soldier Gal Azulay, 19, was killed in a routine diving exercise in an Israeli Navy Base in Ashdod. The soldier’s family has been notified of the tragedy.

An initial investigation found that while on a routine dive, as part of the Shayetet 13′s training course, one of the soldiers realized his partner was showing signs of distress. He carried his partner to the water’s surface and despite many attempts to revive him, the soldier passed away.

The Commander in Chief of the Navy ordered an investigation into the incident and a Military Police investigation was opened simultaneously.