While the media’s eyes this past week were fixed on the situation in the south, focusing their attention on the rockets raining down on Be’er Sheva, Ashdod, Ashkelon and dozens of other communities in the area, the terrorists’ scope reached Judea and Samaria as well, as reports of a massive increase in violent demonstrations, stone throwing and fire bombs occurred. 

IDF and police in Judea and Samaria reported Thursday that during the eight days in which operation “Pillar of Defense” lasted, 201 incidents of violent disturbances occurred in the region, including stones being thrown, bottles being hurled, Molotov cocktail explosions, firebombs and the rolling of burning tires at security forces.

One of the more shocking incidents occurred Wednesday night as terrorists opened fire at an Israeli bus at the Gush Etzion junction. No one was hurt in the incident, but the bus was damaged, and a later inspection of the bus found holes from a bullet on its walls.

On Tuesday night, on a road near Beitar Illit, Tziona Kala, 60, wife of singer Itzik Kala, was seriously injured when terrorists hurled stones at her car. One of the stones smashed the windshield and hit the face of Kala. Her condition improved slightly on Wednesday morning, but she is still battling a serious head wound.

During the events of public disturbances that occurred in the region, 136 suspects were arrested, 19 of whom have been released thus far.