Sources in the Shin Bet and the defense establishment believe that the steep decline in the number of terror attacks in Yehuda and Shomron in recent months stems from a combination of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s prison reform and targeted operations in the field, Artuz Sheva reported last week.

According to the sources, after entering his position, Ben-Gvir spearheaded a fundamental change in terrorists’  prison conditions, which has led to a reduction in Palestinians’ motivation to carry out terrorist acts.

“The terrorists understand that the picnic is over,” the sources told Arutz Sheva. “If in the past we saw young Palestinians entering Israeli prisons to receive an allowance from the Palestinian Authority and in the meantime sit comfortably in prison with good conditions of meals, showers, and college studies – today the harsh conditions in the security prisons, according to the policy of Minister Ben-Gvir, are causing terrorists to recalculate their paths.”

“One of the terrorists who was recently released from prison said that if he had known these were the conditions, he wouldn’t have even thrown a stone.”

Sources close to Minister Ben-Gvir note that since the appointment of Prison Service Chief Kobi Yaakobi, deposits of funds to terrorists have been stopped, canteens have been closed, shower and yard hours have been reduced, the menu has been changed, the prisoners’ “spokesperson” status has been revoked, and dental treatments have been halted.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)