Jenin, dubbed the Palestinian “terror capital” by observers, has been in the news for the past few months as Israel continues to carry out counter-terrorism operations in a bid to save Israeli lives and prevent the actions of those who seek to harm the Jewish state.
But while Jenin is constantly being mentioned in the media, how much do we really know about Jenin?
In this series, we will take a look at different Jenin-related topics and hopefully provide a multi-faceted understanding of the city at the center of the current rise in violence and terrorism.
This is ‘Spotlight on Jenin.’
In this piece, we will focus on Jenin’s geography, its proximity to Israeli cities, and its influence on the surrounding Palestinian towns and villages.
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Where is Jenin Located?
Jenin is located in the northern West Bank, relatively close to the Green Line and Israeli communities established before 1967.
In relation to major Israeli cities, Jenin is 31 miles (50 km) from Haifa, 40 miles (65 km) from Tel Aviv, and 48 miles (77 km) from Jerusalem.
This means that, if Hamas and Islamic Jihad gain control of the West Bank, three of Israel’s major population centers will be within the firing range of between 5 to 10 of these US-designated terror organizations’ deadly rockets.
For residents of Jenin, the closest crossing between pre-1967 Israel and the West Bank is the Jalama / Gilboa Crossing, which is approximately 4.35 miles (7 km) north of Jenin. This crossing is used for pedestrians and vehicles as well as the transfer of goods.
However, some Palestinians cross from the Jenin region into pre-1967 Israel through holes in the security fence. While most of those crossing through these gaps are day laborers, they have also been used by terrorists to avoid detection by Israeli security forces.
Jenin and the Surrounding Area
As the largest city in the region, the terror hub within Jenin has impacted the surrounding town and villages by radicalizing local inhabitants. During this recent rise in violence, a number of attacks have been committed by residents of these neighboring towns.
On March 29, 2022, a Palestinian terrorist from Ya’bad (approximately 12.4 miles / 20 km west of Jenin) murdered five people in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak.
On May 5, 2022, two Palestinian terrorists from Rummanah (approximately 11 miles / 17 km northwest of Jenin) murdered three people and wounded four others during an attack in the central Israeli town of Elad.
On September 13, 2022, two Palestinian gunmen from Kafr Dan (approximately 4.97 miles / 8 km northwest of Jenin) killed an IDF officer during a firefight near the Jalama / Gilboa crossing.
Related Reading:
For Part Two: The Palestinian Terror Groups That Control the Streets of Jenin, click here
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