A series of failures by both IDF troops and civilian security forces caused the lethal terror attack that claimed the lives of three Israeli civilians in the West Bank settlement of Halamish in July, IDF Spokesperson Brig.-Gen. Ronen Manelis said on Monday.
This conclusion is the result of a military investigation into the circumstances of the attack, which was carried out in cooperation with the security forces of the Binyamin Regional Council and the civilian security establishment of settlement.
According to the investigation, which was was presented to the Head of the Central Command, Maj.-Gen. Roni Numa, there were significant failings by both soldiers and civilian security personnel which allowed a Palestinian terrorist to infiltrate the settlement and kill 70-year-old Yosef Salomon and his children, 46-year-old Chaya and 35-year-old Elad Salomon.
The lack of effective communication between the civilian security apparatus and the military was the main reason behind why the terrorist was able to spend 15 minutes in the settlement before being neutralized.
According to Brig. -Gen. Manelis, the IDF patrol force in the area thought the warning of a possible infiltration was a result of wind or an animal as the settlement is located close to a forest.
Following the investigation, the District Defense Commander of the Binyamin Brigade received an official command remark on his record regarding his failure to comply with procedures relating to the lack of communication between the army and the settlement. The company commander of the Netzach Yehuda battalion was also reprimanded by the commander of the Kfir Brigade after failing to fully assess the situation.
The commander of the IDF patrol, who held the rank of sergeant, was reprimanded by the brigade commander and sentenced to 21 days of on-base detention. The soldiers of the patrol itself received an official note on their permanent records.
In addition, the settlement’s civilian security coordinator, its deputy, and the private security officer monitoring the settlement’s front gate all received reprimands for not calling the military after the sensors warned of an infiltration.
Manelis said in a conversation with reporters that the overall responsibility for the settlement and the civilian security system rests with the IDF and therefore the army has decided to intensify the training of security procedures for both military and civilian officers in the sector in order to strengthen the communication mechanisms between the two apparatuses.
IDF forces in action following deadly attack in Halamish, July 22, 2017. (IDF Spokesperson Unit)
The army is also planinng on installing additional security systems in Halamish.
On July 21, 19-year-old Omar al-Abed from the West Bank village of Khobar, near Ramallah, infiltrated the settlement of Halamish. According to the initial investigation, he was able to infiltrate the settlement by crawling under the settlement’s first fence and then by cutting through an additional fence with scissors. He then climbed a tree to get over the next two security fences, including an electric fence, at which point he got into the settlement.
After walking through the settlement’s cemetery he reached two homes, and decided to enter the Salomon home after realizing the lights in their residence were on. He stabbed the Salomon family members to death and injured the mother of the family, Tova Salomon.
Al-Abed was neutralized by off-duty IDF soldier Sgt. A who heard the screams of the victims from his home, ran to the Salomon home and shot one bullet through the window with his pistol. Sgt. A. and his father, Shimon Maoz, then entered the house, identified and neutralized the terrorist and called the security forces.
The investigation into the incident praised Sgt. A’s actions and he was later awarded a commendation.
A month after the attack, security forces arrested family members and demolished the al-Abed home. Al-Abed, who had initially planned to carry out an attack using a suicide belt or firearms, was indicted for the murder of the Salomon family in August.
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