A new method – developed by the IDF to make the roads of Yesha (Judea, Samaria and Gaza) safe for the quarter-million Jews who use them daily – has come under attack.
The Israeli newspaper Maariv published an “exclusive expose” revealing an IDF security tactic used to pinpoint ambushes along Yesha’s roads and then neutralize them. The new tactic has been to assign elite IDF soldiers civilian vehicles and, with their guns hidden from view, patrol stretches of road frequently targeted by terrorists for rock, firebomb, and shooting attacks on Jewish civilians.
Referring to the IDF’s method as “Operation Sitting Ducks," the Maariv report criticized the army for sending the soldiers on such missions without helmets, bullet-proof vests, or armored cars. Those participating in the missions are from Special Forces combat and reserve units and are given special training on how to avoid injury during attempted attacks, identifying an ambush, and liquidating roadside terrorists. The Maariv report quoted unnamed soldiers who had participated in such operations that felt that they were in mortal damage when traveling in a vehicle without bulletproof armor.
An IDF spokesman responded to the report saying, "This activity takes place on major thoroughfares, where thousands of Israeli citizens travel in their private cars every day.” He went on to stress the necessity for such operations: “These roads are the central focus of stone-throwing attacks almost daily and the soldiers who participate in the operations undergo special training. As part of the operation of the IDF to protect Israeli travel on Judea and Samaria roads, Israeli soldiers sometimes travel in vehicles that appear to be civilian near sites where stone-throwing attacks occurred in order to surprise the stone throwers and capture them - something that would not be possible if the soldiers traveled in an army jeep. The type of personal protection is set according to the circumstances of the situation, with consideration given to the threat imposed and the disguise necessary."
The IDF also stated that, contrary to the statements provided by Maariv, soldiers are in fact allowed to wear protective vests, as long as they wear civilian clothing over them.
Following Maariv’s report, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said it would discuss the matter at its next meeting.
Left-wing Knesset Member Yossi Sarid (Meretz) stated, "This is yet another chilling discovery proving that settlers control the territories and that soldiers are their servants. These crazy situations, whereby soldiers dress up as settlers to serve as bait for attacks, are worse than Tisha B'Av (the Jewish day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the Temple)."
Yishai Ben-Mordechai, a resident of the Yesha town of Kochav HaShachar who emerged unscathed after 14 bullets were fired at his car on his way home from work, told IsraelNationalNews.com, “I don’t think anyone should be allowed to be bait for terrorists; not soldiers and not civilians. But I can tell you that until we go on the offensive, a Jew driving anywhere in Israel will be viewed as just that in the eyes of Arab terrorists.”
The Israeli newspaper Maariv published an “exclusive expose” revealing an IDF security tactic used to pinpoint ambushes along Yesha’s roads and then neutralize them. The new tactic has been to assign elite IDF soldiers civilian vehicles and, with their guns hidden from view, patrol stretches of road frequently targeted by terrorists for rock, firebomb, and shooting attacks on Jewish civilians.
Referring to the IDF’s method as “Operation Sitting Ducks," the Maariv report criticized the army for sending the soldiers on such missions without helmets, bullet-proof vests, or armored cars. Those participating in the missions are from Special Forces combat and reserve units and are given special training on how to avoid injury during attempted attacks, identifying an ambush, and liquidating roadside terrorists. The Maariv report quoted unnamed soldiers who had participated in such operations that felt that they were in mortal damage when traveling in a vehicle without bulletproof armor.
An IDF spokesman responded to the report saying, "This activity takes place on major thoroughfares, where thousands of Israeli citizens travel in their private cars every day.” He went on to stress the necessity for such operations: “These roads are the central focus of stone-throwing attacks almost daily and the soldiers who participate in the operations undergo special training. As part of the operation of the IDF to protect Israeli travel on Judea and Samaria roads, Israeli soldiers sometimes travel in vehicles that appear to be civilian near sites where stone-throwing attacks occurred in order to surprise the stone throwers and capture them - something that would not be possible if the soldiers traveled in an army jeep. The type of personal protection is set according to the circumstances of the situation, with consideration given to the threat imposed and the disguise necessary."
The IDF also stated that, contrary to the statements provided by Maariv, soldiers are in fact allowed to wear protective vests, as long as they wear civilian clothing over them.
Following Maariv’s report, the Knesset Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee said it would discuss the matter at its next meeting.
Left-wing Knesset Member Yossi Sarid (Meretz) stated, "This is yet another chilling discovery proving that settlers control the territories and that soldiers are their servants. These crazy situations, whereby soldiers dress up as settlers to serve as bait for attacks, are worse than Tisha B'Av (the Jewish day of fasting and mourning for the destruction of the Temple)."
Yishai Ben-Mordechai, a resident of the Yesha town of Kochav HaShachar who emerged unscathed after 14 bullets were fired at his car on his way home from work, told IsraelNationalNews.com, “I don’t think anyone should be allowed to be bait for terrorists; not soldiers and not civilians. But I can tell you that until we go on the offensive, a Jew driving anywhere in Israel will be viewed as just that in the eyes of Arab terrorists.”