An unnamed senior IDF officer assigned to the Central Command was quoted in a Kol Chai Radio report on Friday morning as saying any additional concessions to the Palestinian Authority, such as the removal of checkpoints, will result in the deterioration in the overall security situation.

The officer, quoted anonymously, stated that daily IDF counter-terrorism activities throughout Yehuda and Shomron have significantly reduced terrorism, bringing attacks to a minimum.

He warned that an Israeli withdrawal from Yehuda and Shomron would result in Hamas filling the void, which would lead to rocket attacks into the heartland of the nation.

The report quoted the senior Central Command officer as saying the IDF must be permitted to continue to operate with a free hand in those areas.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)