The terror attack at the Damascus Gate last week should serve as a waving red flag. The attack that was thwarted by Border Police officers, much like other terror attacks in recent days committed with firearms, signals the natural evolution of the third intifada from knife-wielding lone wolves to armed terror cells.

The transition to this new stage, which is far more deadly and dangerous, is natural because history and experience have taught us that this is an almost deterministic process. As long as the side that has already chosen the path of guerrilla warfare and terrorism remains highly motivated, it will continue looking for effective and painful new ways to cause damage without considering the cost – until its goals are met.

In this case, religious incitement, which was the main generator of motivation for the hotheaded Palestinian youth at the beginning of this wave of terrorism, has now been upgraded with two powerful motives: The thirst for revenge (for relatives who were allegedly executed), and mostly – the desire to imitate terrorists who succeeded, in order to enjoy the fame they did and become “shahids” (martyrs).

Read the article in full at Ynet.