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Security guard shoots dead Jewish man in Kotel
Noam (Dabul) Dvir
Published: 21.06.13, 08:05
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36 Talkbacks for this article
1. Unidentified? Did he even think to look?
Az   (06.21.13)
Or is "Allah akbar" now equivalent to "pull out your gun and shoot at me and don't even use your head?" I'm sure that there is no risk that "Allah akbar" could be substituted with "Baruch atah ..." elsewhere.
2. I'm so sorry!
Johnny ,   Mexico   (06.21.13)
I'm so sorry for this incident, it's a sign from God, against the Jewish corrupted and unjust government who spit on the face of the Jewish people every day! May God punish the evil doers! I would like to know what this security guard feels or has to say now!
3. Prayers
Adam Neira ,   Paris, France   (06.21.13)
Prayers for the deceased man and for the civilian guard after this terrible mix up.
4. Az the security guard did right given the circumstances...
Israel ,   Israel   (06.21.13)
I KNOW that it is very difficult to secure any area properly and I KNOW that there "Allah Akbar" is part of the call to prayer but it is also what Arab terrorists say just before they blow themselves up. and I KNOW that a peaceful normative Moslem would say: "El Am Dil IL La" in an ordinary conversation. and so I KNOW that in his place I would have used my training and reacted as the guard did. You sir clearly have no real knowledge of about living in the this region of ours.
5. #1 The rules of the game are indeed shoot first
Brian Cohen ,   Judean Peoples Front   (06.21.13)
The Palestinians and Al Qaeda have made the rules. They love to shout "G-d is great!" just before killing themselves and as many infidels as they can. We Israelis learned this with hundreds of dead and thousands of wounded. You Americans learned this on 9/11. If somebody shouts "Allahu akbar" you better act fast. If the passengers on all the hijacked planes on 9/11 had immediately rushed the hijackers, there may have been a dozen or more dead passengers and hijackers. We learned the hard way that immediate lethal action must be taken against Islamic terrorists...the result on 9/11 was thousands of dead and billions of dollars in damage. No, don't think - react.
6. #2 - I've got an idea:
Az   (06.21.13)
Probably would say something like: "Perhaps I should have thought about what he was wearing and whether it could conceal any type of explosive device, and whether he looked like any kind of militant at all, and then glanced at what he pulled out of his pocket to see whether it was not a handkerchief to wipe his nose with, instead of immediately shooting my gun at anyone who utters the words Allah akbar." This thought would probably be followed after perhaps a day's distress by something along the lines of: "I should probably reflect on this incident, because it bothers me that I didn't even bother to glance at what he was holding in his hand when it came out of his pocket."
7. #1 & #2
Ariel ,   Modi'in, Israel   (06.21.13)
Maybe if you guys had been in the guard's shoes things might have turned out different!! It might also have been possible that the guy did turn out to be an attacker and that you could have been on the receiving end of his attack while you attempted to positively identify him before taking action which might have lead to your demise! Not too sure if that would have been a bad thing given your pathetic remarks..... It seems as if you are to eager to judge given the lack of insight into the circumstances!?!?
8. The guard did the right thing
A Shvitzer ,   Israel   (06.21.13)
This is Israel and if you dont know someone and they shout this then you take no chances.Another mentally ill person wondering the streets of Israel without authorities taking care of him. People KNEW he was strange and should have alerted a mental health team.
9. Why am I not surprised
Reuven ,   Netanya   (06.21.13)
I am surrounded by "primitiviem" who think they are the chosen ones and they have guns ...
10. Allah Akbar
Ilana   (06.21.13)
Is what all terrorists say when they commit terror, blow up whatever. Jews are not terrorists and dont yell out Bruch ata Adonai and then detonate. In fact there is not a siongle case of such an event. It is a tragedy.
11. #1 Allah Achbar SCREAMED means MURDER OTHERS
Annie ,   Netanya   (06.21.13)
We see it in Syria, Iran, Iraq, Pakistan, Afghan, Lebanon, Egypt, Israel and even in the West. You are either ignorant of news or prefer denial and covering up the clear truth. If anyone with half a brain were to hear Allah Achbar SCREAMED today, they would duck for cover or shoot to protect themselves and others. What would you have said if afterwards this man opened fire and killed many or just beheaded one or two, in the name of Allah? Bet you wouldn't even comment then, since it would just be the usual act that we see everywhere that Muslims live or even visit today.
12. 10/11 I'm not ignorant of this
Az   (06.21.13)
But this is a rather different problem. Some terrorists, for instance, will NOT scream "Allah akbar," precisely BECAUSE of this condition. They simply explode - there is no need to shout it, because it is "obvious" who did it and for what reason. The PROBLEM is that if you just act without thinking, then soon enough it doesn't matter WHAT someone yells, and if someone is unable to restrain themselves from taking out their gun and shooting at anyone who shouts any given phrase or word, then "Baruch ... !" is as good as "Allah akbar!" for shooting people without thinking, or for instance "Buttercup!" If you subscribe to this mentality then soon enough you'll be shooting at anyone and everyone, and possibly yourself - don't think just shoot!
13. #8 a restraining order would have saved him.
Lemmings Hotline ,   sd usa   (06.21.13)
14. Allahua Akbar
(06.21.13)
So maybe security guards in Israel should shoot at anyone who speaks Arabic because you never know...
15. No8 right things
(06.21.13)
I hope you would tell the same if one of your aquintance has been killed for having shout Allah Akbar
16. The guard did the right thing
Haya ,   Bat Yam   (06.21.13)
There are Arabs who dress up as religious Jews and hitchhike in order to steal a car or even worse. I have no problem with what the security guard did.
17. Pointless criticism
Adam ,   Israel   (06.21.13)
Had he actually been a terrorist, the guard would have been hailed as a hero. The investigation will determine his level of negligence, not pointless jabbering on talkbacks
18. To #14 the problem is that after a Allahua aKbar
NATAN ,   ISRAEL   (06.21.13)
and a han in a poket you hear Kabooom!!
19. The guard got it wrong....
Shachar ,   Eilat   (06.21.13)
and may payquite a heavy price for getting it wrong. But it is also an inevitable outcome in tense areas like Jerusalem....bring on the peace and we won't need armed guards everywhere
20. Sad but necessary.
Tzimmes ,   Tel Aviv   (06.21.13)
The guard did his job,he cannot know the psychology of potential threats,he has a split second to react to events. If a terrorist got through he would be criticised.
21. In an ideal world...
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.21.13)
the guard would have stopped and thought and checked. However the facts of life in Israel are such that it is sometimes necessary to shoot first and check afterward... If the the man had been a terrorist he would have killed both himself and others, including the guard. The guard, sadly, did what he had to do and correctly so.
22. Israel was lucky
marian ,   Romania   (06.21.13)
Just imagine what would have happened if the man had been an unarmed arab !
23. A tragedy but
Get Real ,   UK   (06.21.13)
It appears the guard acted correctly in the circumstances. He would have been negligent to have waited to see if the Arabic shout was to be followed by a bomb. The fault lies with those who knew of the condition of the victim and could have acted earlier. Easy for us all with hindsight. to criticise everyhing and everybody.
24. Nathan, where I live in haifa
(06.21.13)
I often hear Allah Akbar.... But never followed by any of your kaboom. When was the last time did you hear of a suicide bomber in Israel?
25. The guard did the right things
(06.21.13)
I hope all talkbackers supporting this idea would say the same would it be one of their relatives.... It's true that the guy was just made of one torso and therefore a bullet in one his legs wouldn't have helped
26. 21
anton ,   istanbul   (06.21.13)
just pray that one day noone says allah akbar near you or you might be collateral damage then only then if your still thinking guard acted correct then i have nothing more to say guar probbaly did not even see him when he yelled the words its summer and its right to assume vitcim was wearing a shirt or t shirt which makes it impossible really to hide bombs and thre is diffrence in voice when one really means those words or makes fun of it so guard basicly panicked after the words and shot him before even looking at him, thre would surely be more vicmtim if thre was bystanders one of them could be you jaruselamite
27. Conclusion You have to be nuts
BUILD BABY BUILD!!!! ,   United States   (06.21.13)
to scream Allah Akbar in public. ( Especially in Israel. ) It has become the precursor to a terror attack. What a dubious honor.
28. Anton # 26
Eaglebeak ,   Left Coast, USA   (06.21.13)
See the guys dressed in black wearing hats? It's summer. I wouldn't advise assuming what anyone wore without seeing it. Not everyone has your skills at reading someones intent by listening to their voice. Thats quite a skill you have there.
29. anton #26
A Jerusalemite ,   Jerusalem, Israel   (06.21.13)
You have to live here to understand. Yes, I have been caught in a local suicide bombing - luckily for me only on the periphery. My children used to cry because they were afraid to take the bus to school - buses then were being blown up at a rate of 1 a week. We all - all Israelis that is - know what it is to fear going to a large shopping mall or a coffee shop. Any one that yells Allah Akbar in Israel (except for the call to prayer in the mosques) is taking his life in his hands - and for good reason. We live under the stress of our life experiences, as do you... BTW - I have to disagree that the guard "shot him before even looking at him" for the simple reason that the guard shot what he aimed at - he had to be looking at the man to do that.
30. Guard Against Such Guards!
Robert Blum ,   New Albany, USA   (06.21.13)
He could have demanded to see his hands, to drop whatever the guard claimed he pulled out of his pocket, to shoot him in either the shoulder or the leg. The guard was both unfit to carry a weapon and the responsibility of deciding who he doles out death to, as well as being too impulsive and unprofessional. This is not a matter where one blames the erratic behavior of an unbalanced man, Jewish brother no less, but rather, blame must go to the person(s) who determined that the guard is fit to be a guard, and to the guard.
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