Ex-Shin Bet chief: Islamic Jihad are ‘lunatics’ determined to carry out attack

Amid rising tensions in the south amid fears that the Islamic Jihad will attempt to avenge a tunnel demolition two weeks ago, former Shin bet chief MK Avi Dichter warns that the group terror group are “lunatics” determined to carry out attack “at all costs.”

The army said earlier that Iron Dome missile defense batteries have been deployed in the Dan region of central Israel, a day after the military said it had stationed several interceptors in central Israel to protect against a possible rocket attack.

The batteries are one of several measures taken by the army to raise its alert level and response capabilities amid heightened tensions with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization since the army demolished the terrorist group’s border-crossing attack tunnel last month.

Speaking to Hadahsot news, Dichter says that while Fatah and Hamas may be looking to maintain quiet on the Gaza border to prevent additional pressure on their recently singed reconciliation deal, the leaders of Islamic Jihad are less interested in saving face.

“They are lunatics who will do all they can to stir things up. Deterrents don’t work with them. They will carry out an attack at all costs,” he says, adding that the Iranians are encouraging the group to carry out an attack.

Dichter also warned that Islamic Jihad has “a terrorist infrastructure” in the West Bank and has carried out attacks from there in the past.