There has been a significant increase in attempts to abduct soldiers in recent months, a source in the Israel Defense Forces said on Thursday. Since the beginning of the year, the IDF has counted 27 attempted or planned abductions of soldiers, mainly by terrorist cells. This is the same number as for the whole of 2012.
Most of the incidents involved detainees who admitted under interrogation that they were planning to abduct a soldier. “Most of the incidents were carried out by operatives affiliated with Hamas,” a senior officer explained.
Israel Security Agency sources said some of the prisoners freed in the deal for kidnapped soldier Gilad Shalit, especially those who have been deported overseas, are encouraging other terrorists to abduct soldiers.
{Matzav.com Israel News Bureau}
