While the Jewish population of the Shomron is still reeling from the removal of a multi-lane, anti-terrorism checkpoint outside Shechem on Sunday, questions are being asked as to whether the removal may have aided the terrorists who murdered two policemen in the Jordan Valley on Sunday night.
Samaria/Judea District Police Commander Shlomi Ka’atabi told IDF Army Radio that very little is known about the terror attack, and that it is still under “a complex investigation.” However, when asked if the terrorists might have utilized the removal of the west-of-Shechem checkpoint to travel freely back and forth from the murder, Ka’atabi said categorically, “No. There was no connection.”
Veteran Army Radio broadcaster Razi Barkai did not ask the simple follow-up question, “How do you know that?”
Prior to Ka’atabi’s remarks, Army Radio correspondent Guy Veron had raised the possibility that the terrorists might have been aided by the removal of the checkpoint – but he was not given the opportunity to challenge Ka’atabi’s categorical denial.
Shomron Regional Council Chairman Gershon Mesika said, “It's very interesting that while the army says it has no idea where the terrorists came from, the police already know exactly where he didn't come from. In any event, it doesn't matter if they came via there or not; the very day that the encirclement around Shechem was removed [see below] for the first time since Operation Defensive Shield, a terrorist attack happens right then."
The checkpoint removed by the IDF just a few hours before the murderous attack was located west of Shechem (Nablus), near Beit Iba. Some 100 security incidents have been recorded at that checkpoint in the past three years – an average of one attempted or potential terrorist attack every ten days.
Names of Victims
The names of the two policemen killed in the attack were released on Monday morning: David Rabinowitz, 42, from Rosh HaAyin, whose funeral is scheduled in Haifa for 12 noon, and Yechezkel Ramzarker, 50, from Maaleh Ephraim, who will be buried in Yavneh at 4 p.m.
Ramzarker brought up his three children, aged 27, 21 and 16, on his own, while Rabinowitz is survived by eight brothers and sisters.
The attack occurred near Masuah, some 25 kilometers north of Jericho and 65 kilometers due east of Tel Aviv. Shortly after 8 PM, civilians reported seeing a police car stuck suspiciously on the side of the road. Initial findings showed that the two policemen apparently stopped to help what they thought was a motorist stuck with a flat tire; the terrorists took advantage of their willingness to help by shooting them at point-blank range. Ramzarker was killed on the spot, while Rabinowitz died after brief resuscitation efforts. Their weapons were not taken, but a jack for fixing flats was found nearby – about 20-30 meters from the police car.
The Price Has Been Exacted
Danny Dayan, head of the Yesha Council of Jewish Communities in Judea and Samaria, said in response to the attack, “Every person with any understanding knows that the Olmert government’s policy of removing checkpoints and releasing terrorists will exact a price. Unfortunately, all our warning calls did not help, and we have now already paid a high price in blood.”