The IDF's Judea Division is conducting an investigation into the terrorist ambush and the security forces' response that led to the deaths of 12 soldiers, Border Guard policemen, and civilian fighters on Friday night. Participating in the investigation is Central Commander Maj.-Gen. Moshe Kaplinsky, as well as the officers, soldiers and civilian emergency-team fighters who took part in the battle. The last of the 12 victims of the attack, Sgt. David Marcus, 21, was buried late today in Mt. Herzl Military Cemetery in Jerusalem. Seven wounded victims are still hospitalized, four of them in serious condition.
Quicker than some had thought possible, steps were taken yesterday to ensure the safety of Jews walking between Kiryat Arba and Hevron: Army trucks came and placed concrete blocks all along the route, separating it from the Arab-populated areas alongside it. Kiryat Arba Mayor Tzvi Katzover explained to Arutz-7, however, why the move did not make him and his townspeople happy:
"We will now be closed into a narrow path surrounded by concrete blocks, allowing the terrorists to come right up to those blocks. This is not safety; this is a ghetto-mindset of fortifying and closing ourselves off… [We were] allowed to build a temporary outpost along the route, but the army wants to take it down soon."
Statements by Prime Minister Sharon and other ministers yesterday promising or calling for Jewish territorial contiguity along the route were encouraging, Katzover said, "but these blocks are not what we had in mind… Sharon, who came here yesterday, met only with army officials, but not with us, despite our request. We are working hard to figure out how to turn his recommendation [of Jewish contiguity] into reality, and we have met with [Housing Minister] Sharansky - but it all depends on how determined Sharon is to carry it out."
Mayor Katzover said that the IDF has retaken control of all of Hevron, "and it is clearly felt… We need people to show support for our demands for a Jewish community along this route; we need a permanent presence there, not just a temporary path connecting Kiryat Arba and Hevron. Only a permanent presence will bring security."
Quicker than some had thought possible, steps were taken yesterday to ensure the safety of Jews walking between Kiryat Arba and Hevron: Army trucks came and placed concrete blocks all along the route, separating it from the Arab-populated areas alongside it. Kiryat Arba Mayor Tzvi Katzover explained to Arutz-7, however, why the move did not make him and his townspeople happy:
"We will now be closed into a narrow path surrounded by concrete blocks, allowing the terrorists to come right up to those blocks. This is not safety; this is a ghetto-mindset of fortifying and closing ourselves off… [We were] allowed to build a temporary outpost along the route, but the army wants to take it down soon."
Statements by Prime Minister Sharon and other ministers yesterday promising or calling for Jewish territorial contiguity along the route were encouraging, Katzover said, "but these blocks are not what we had in mind… Sharon, who came here yesterday, met only with army officials, but not with us, despite our request. We are working hard to figure out how to turn his recommendation [of Jewish contiguity] into reality, and we have met with [Housing Minister] Sharansky - but it all depends on how determined Sharon is to carry it out."
Mayor Katzover said that the IDF has retaken control of all of Hevron, "and it is clearly felt… We need people to show support for our demands for a Jewish community along this route; we need a permanent presence there, not just a temporary path connecting Kiryat Arba and Hevron. Only a permanent presence will bring security."