IDF Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth has ordered the military to stop notifying Palestinian Authority security forces before troops enter Palestinian Authority-controlled villages to carry out arrest operations, search for weapons, and conduct security sweeps, according to a report in Makor Rishon. The decision was made following concerns raised by personnel in the field that information provided to PA security officials was being passed on to terrorists, helping them evade arrest and conceal weapons stockpiles.
According to the report, the IDF has observed an increase in the number of weapons seized during military operations since it stopped providing advance notifications to the Palestinian security forces. The military's decision follows an Arutz Sheva report revealing that information about planned IDF operations had been reaching terrorists as a result of the coordination mechanism that remained in place until recently. Hilltop activist Elisha Yered, a resident of Ramat Migron, warned about the procedure, which he said could endanger IDF soldiers and undermine their ability to surprise terrorists during operations in Judea and Samaria.
He described how details of planned military operations were passed to Palestinian security forces in advance and then appeared within minutes on Arabic-language Telegram channels that monitor IDF movements. The IDF denied the allegations following the original report, but it now appears that the advance notifications, which had been provided in accordance with directives from the political leadership, have been discontinued entirely.
Arutz Sheva reports an IOF order to stop notifying Palestinian Authority forces before raids. It states as established fact that information had been reaching 'terrorists', a claim it admits the army denied. It labels everyone sought in these raids a terrorist, places the raids in 'Judea and Samaria' without ever saying the West Bank is occupied, and gives no Palestinian voice.
States one side's claim as fact
Serious
“an Arutz Sheva report revealing that information about planned IDF operations had been reaching terrorists as a result of the coordination mechanism”
Why this matters
Arutz Sheva says its own earlier report was 'revealing' that information 'had been reaching terrorists', in its own voice and with no attribution.
The impression it gives
A reader believes it is established that the coordination mechanism leaked operations to armed groups.
The context
The article's only basis is 'concerns raised by personnel in the field' and one activist's account. It admits the army denied the allegations. The leak is a contested claim, not a revealed fact.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“The IDF denied the allegations following the original report”
Elsewhere in the article“concerns raised by personnel in the field”
“but it now appears that the advance notifications, which had been provided in accordance with directives from the political leadership, have been discontinued entirely”
Why this matters
The outlet sets the end of notifications against the army's denial with 'but it now appears', as if the change proves the denial false.
The impression it gives
A reader believes the policy change confirms the leaks and refutes the denial.
The context
Ending a procedure because of field concerns does not establish that leaks happened. The article's stated reason is concerns, and it gives no confirmation of the allegation.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“The decision was made following concerns raised”
Personnel in the field raised concerns, reported by Makor Rishon, that information shared with PA security officials reached armed groups. The army denied an earlier Arutz Sheva report making that allegation.
Uses the occupation's words
Serious
“during operations in Judea and Samaria”
Why this matters
Arutz Sheva paraphrases the activist in its own words and calls the territory 'Judea and Samaria'.
The impression it gives
A reader takes the raids as happening in territory that belongs to Israel.
The context
The International Court of Justice has found Israel's occupation of the West Bank unlawful. The article never uses the word occupied anywhere.
How we know
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
Checked against the whole articleIt never uses the words “occupied” and “occupation”.
The outlet describes armed troops entering Palestinian villages as 'security sweeps', using the army's own phrasing.
The impression it gives
A reader sees routine policing rather than military raids into villages under occupation.
The context
Elsewhere the article says these are operations in which troops 'enter Palestinian Authority-controlled villages'. These are raids by an occupying army.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“details of planned military operations were passed”
On the recordThe International Court of Justice's July 2024 advisory opinion found Israel's occupation of the West Bank and East Jerusalem unlawful.icj-cij.org (opens in a new tab)
“undermine their ability to surprise terrorists during operations”
Why this matters
The outlet's paraphrase turns whoever is in the villages troops enter into 'terrorists' to be surprised.
The impression it gives
A reader believes raids into Palestinian villages target only terrorists.
The context
The operations described are arrests, weapons searches and sweeps of whole villages. Nothing in the article shows who the targets are beyond the army's word.
How we know
Elsewhere in the article“before troops enter Palestinian Authority-controlled villages”
Field personnel said the information helped people sought for arrest to evade troops.
One side gets the space
Minor
“Hilltop activist Elisha Yered, a resident of Ramat Migron, warned about the procedure”
Why this matters
The only named voice besides the army is an Israeli activist, who gets two sentences.
The impression it gives
A reader hears only the army's and the activist's account of the leaks.
The context
The Palestinian Authority, whose forces are accused of passing information on, is never quoted or asked. No Palestinian from the raided villages appears.