The Israel Defense Forces announced Sunday that Palestinian laborers would be barred from entering Jewish communities in Judea and Samaria until further notice. Palestinians remain permitted to work in industrial zones, while individual communities may request exemptions for construction sites, according to a military spokesman.
The restriction followed a series of attacks in the region. A shooting near Havat Gilad in northern Samaria on Friday killed two IDF soldiers. On Saturday, a Palestinian attacker seized an Israeli soldier's weapon during an altercation south of Hebron, fired several shots and fled. Eliram Azulay, head of the Mount Hebron Regional Council, said a reservist was moderately wounded after being struck by a rock before the assailant took his weapon.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz approved additional measures in response to the Friday attack. These include demolishing the homes of attackers, intensifying military operations in areas identified as terrorist strongholds through weapons seizures and work permit revocations, reinforcing IDF deployments across Judea and Samaria, implementing traffic separation at key routes and checkpoints, and accelerating the legalization of existing farms and establishment of new ones.
IDF Central Command head Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth described recent days as "tense" During a meeting with regional community leaders Friday. "Following the recent events, and especially this morning's attack, there is concern about escalation throughout Judea and Samaria," The military quoted him as saying. "We are carrying out counter-terrorism operations to prevent the area from spiraling into further violence and are using every means at our disposal."