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Opinion | The goal: to deter the next prisoner Israel today

2021-09-11T21:11:12.916Z


The achievement must not obscure the default investigation • Capture of prisoners shows - they had no plan • The IDF must make it clear to Hamas: protest Yes, escalation initiated - no • Cooperation with Israeli Arabs must also expand to fight influence in the sector


The capture of four of the six terrorists who escaped from Gilboa Prison did not require exceptional security capabilities, nor special units.

Civil vigilance and basic probing were enough to bring them back to their natural place.

It turns out that the escaped prisoners had very little idea what to do once they got out of the prison walls.

They mostly tried to survive, without having a definite goal to continue.

Contrary to estimates, they had no aides, nor did they try to cross the fence into Judea and Samaria or move to Jordan. They moved and wandered frightened, directionless, gathering food and seeking shelter.

Precisely these basic survival operations made their detention difficult.

The Israeli defense system is the world champion in locating wanted persons, mainly while cross-referencing advanced technological capabilities with human resources.

The problem in the present case was that the terrorists did not use technology, nor did the aides.

The investigators' assessment was that it was due to an extreme compartmentalization to preserve their lives and safety, but their capture mainly indicates helplessness: from the moment they fled and split up, for a reason that will surely become clear in the investigation, they simply had no idea what to do.

Protest against escalation

The capture of the four led, as expected, to violent reactions from the Palestinian side.

There were widespread demonstrations in Judea and Samaria, and a rocket was fired from Gaza in the direction of the Envelope. Yes, escalation is initiated - no.

Palestinians in Ramallah celebrate the escape of prisoners from Gilboa Prison / Photo: AFP,

The southern sector currently looks more threatening, regardless of the escape of the prisoners.

Hamas is showing growing nervousness over the futility of the Cairo talks, and is signaling in ways familiar to it: incendiary balloons, demonstrations and the blowing up of threats to the air.

It is doubtful whether this reality can last for long, and it is quite possible that we are heading for another point escalation.

In such a case, Israel will seek to establish the deterrence that was not fully achieved in Operation Wall Guard, and will be required to consider doing what it has not done so far - eliminating Yahya Sinwar, even at the cost of a longer and more bloody round.

Against the background of the unrest in Judea and Samaria and the tension in the south, one can look with satisfaction at the conduct of Israeli Arabs. The fears that they will provide shelter to terrorists turned out to be baseless. The media did not respect the family's request to remain anonymous, for fear of their safety, which will certainly reduce the motivation of other Arab citizens in the future to cooperate with the law enforcement authorities.

Accelerating cooperation with Israeli Arabs

This matter is critical far beyond the interest of the escaped prisoners.

The cooperation of Israeli Arabs is also important for the vital fight against crime in the Arab sector.

The shooting over the weekend at the home of Chief of Staff Jamal Khachrush was a warning light - another in a long chain - about the lack of deterrence and governance in this sector.

Precisely the recent events, and the successful functioning of them in the Northern District led by Superintendent Shimon Lavi, should now be used to accelerate activity in the sector, which is desperate for solutions.

Even earlier, the police will be required to lead the completion of the escape of the fugitives.

There is little information about the remaining two, but even here it can be estimated that they will have a hard time surviving for a long time without assistance and allies.

Capturing them alive, like the quartet that has already been arrested, and sent back to prison with their hands handcuffed and their eyes flannel-covered, will send an important message of deterrence to those considering escaping from prisons in the future.

But the expected closure of the operational case must not divert public interest from the functioning of the Prison Service and its senior officials.

Their resounding failure requires an in-depth investigation, and the Minister of Internal Security, Amar Bar-Lev, did well to announce the appointment of a government commission of inquiry.

Although it would have been better for the committee to be state-owned, with extensive powers to examine the structure of the IPS, its functioning and suitability for its tasks, a government committee, assuming its members are brave enough, should also be able to derive what is needed.

The Minister of Internal Security is visiting Ketziot Prison.

The decision on the government inspection is correct, the IPS spokeswoman said

Until then, Bar-Lev would do well to closely monitor the IPS 'conduct within the walls of the prisons. . Their conduct in recent days has only fueled the riots, and now a deliberate hand is required to close the affair, and allow it to embark on a new path on the basis of discretion, and not out of emotion.

Source: israelhayom

All news articles on 2021-09-11

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