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Following the deadly terrorist attack near the village of Tell, the IDF’s Central Command has issued updated security guidelines warning Israelis against entering Palestinian Authority-controlled areas in Judea and Samaria without prior coordination, stressing that doing so could put lives at risk.

According to the new directive, “Entry into Areas B, and certainly Areas A, without prior coordination and appropriate security protection endangers lives. Anyone who does so without the required authorization bears responsibility.”

The updated guidance, first reported by Army Radio’s Ayala Ben Adar, is intended to reinforce existing security procedures in light of the deteriorating security situation.

Under the Oslo Accords, Area A is under full Palestinian Authority civil and security control, Area B is under Palestinian civil administration with Israeli security responsibility, and Area C remains under full Israeli control.

Despite those distinctions, many Israelis—particularly members of the Chareidi community—regularly visit certain Area B villages that have long been viewed as relatively friendly. Among the most frequented are Dir Qadis, near Modi’in Illit, and Husan, near Beitar Illit, where many Israelis go for shopping, vehicle repairs, and other services.

The new directive was issued in the wake of the recent terrorist attack near Tell, which, according to the IDF document, “once again illustrates the complexity of the security reality in Judea and Samaria and the operational challenges we face every day. This reality requires all parties to act responsibly, with discipline and sound judgment, while strictly adhering to security procedures and directives, particularly regarding entry into areas that present security risks.”

The IDF emphasized that unauthorized entry into Areas B—and especially Area A—not only endangers the individuals involved but can also force Israeli security forces into dangerous rescue operations.

“Entry into Areas B, and certainly Areas A, without prior coordination and appropriate security protection endangers human life,” the document states. “Beyond the danger posed to the travelers themselves, incidents of this kind often require the deployment of security forces into a complex environment under time constraints and operational limitations, exposing them to significant risks, as occurred in the most recent incident.”

The updated guidance also reiterates that anyone entering these areas without the required authorization assumes personal responsibility for the consequences.

In addition, the IDF reminded the public that entering Area A without official authorization is a criminal offense under Israeli law.

Israeli Prime Minister Binyomin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington was carried out under an unprecedented veil of secrecy after Israeli security officials warned of an increased Iranian effort to target senior Israeli leaders, according to a report Tuesday evening.

Channel 12 News reported that top government officials, including several cabinet ministers, were briefed on intelligence indicating that Tehran has intensified attempts to strike high-ranking Israeli officials in what it views as an opportunity to achieve a strategic victory.

In response to the growing threat, Israel’s security establishment reportedly alerted the political leadership to the heightened danger, while the Shin Bet significantly increased security around a number of senior Israeli officials. Security authorities also recommended that Netanyahu’s departure for Washington be conducted in complete secrecy.

Instead of departing from Ben Gurion Airport, Netanyahu’s official aircraft, Wing of Zion, took off from Nevatim Airbase. Journalists were not permitted to accompany the prime minister on the flight, and both the departure time and the expected arrival time in Washington were withheld from the public for security reasons.

The prime minister’s visit to the U.S. had been planned in advance under unusually strict security and media restrictions. Netanyahu’s office announced that he was traveling to Washington at the invitation of President Donald Trump, but officials deliberately kept the flight schedule confidential, citing security concerns.

The heightened secrecy extended to Netanyahu’s White House meeting with President Trump. The meeting was initially scheduled to be closed to the media, although a source close to the prime minister later indicated that those plans could change.

According to the source, Netanyahu would prefer that the meeting be photographed and documented publicly, allowing the close relationship between the two leaders to be reflected not only diplomatically but also visually.

{Matzav.com}