A short walk from Ramallah’s bustling streets, well-known cafés and luxury hotels – including the Grand Park Hotel – a clandestine infrastructure was exposed overnight: a lathe for producing rockets, dozens of explosives and bomb-making materials. The Palestinian city, located only about 15 kilometers north of Jerusalem in a straight line, had long been perceived as cosmopolitan and commercial, yet suddenly revealed itself as fertile ground for clandestine weapons production. This sharp contrast shakes the public image and puts Jerusalem back at the center of security concerns.
Ramallah: modern image versus armed reality
In a coordinated operation by the IDF, Shin Bet and special units, an intelligence cycle was closed: forces surrounded a building in central Ramallah, opened fire, and compelled three suspects to surrender. Inside, they found a collection of rockets – two prepared for launch without warheads – along with dozens of explosives. A lathe adapted for rocket production was also discovered. The findings were destroyed, and the suspects transferred to Shin Bet investigation.
This scene underlines the harsh contradiction: a city once considered a symbol of civil progress has also become a shelter for terror infrastructure – in Jerusalem’s backyard.
Attempts to launch and expanding threats
Ramallah and nearby Palestinian villages, including Kafr Ni’ma, have previously been linked to experimental rocket launches. Some devices lacked warheads or effective range, but the very attempt demonstrates intent and the potential for technological advancement. The presence of rockets inside a civilian building raises concern that the threat is not accidental but part of a broader effort.
(Ultra-Orthodox in Jerusalem – academy of protest)
Jerusalem within range – proximity becomes a threat
The distance between Ramallah and Jerusalem is no more than 15 kilometers in a straight line. The implication is clear: even relatively simple rockets, if upgraded, could threaten targets in Jerusalem. This scenario places the city at the heart of concern and demands close surveillance alongside systematic countermeasures.
European-style city? Or a security hub?
Thus Ramallah’s duality becomes sharper: a cultural and economic center hosting embassies, hotels and international institutions – while at the same time a ground that can nurture weapons manufacturing. For Jerusalem, just a short distance away, the question is not only about perception but about survival: how close is the next threat, and will the neighboring city’s face directly shape the capital’s security?
