Gilad Shalit salutes Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after prisoner exchange deal in Oct. 2011. Photo: wiki commons.

Terrorists have attempted to kidnap Israeli soldiers in northern Israel at least five times since Gilad Shalit was released last October, IDF officials said, according to Israel National News.

“You can see a direct correlation between the return of Shalit and kidnapping attempts…The terrorist organizations know that Israel is willing to pay high prices for the return a soldier and their motivation to kidnap a soldier is very high,” said IDF Northern Command Provost Marshal Lt Colonel Nir Golan.

In areas where there is little effective public transportation, IDF soldiers are especially vulnerable because they are forced to walk and hitchhike, he added.

“There are many disturbing trends and incidents that indicate intent to kidnap our soldiers and we continue to refine our procedures,” said Ministry of Defense Operations Director Maj. Gen. Shmulik Calmi.