West Bank security fence crossings have become a regular infiltration route, largely due to lax security measures “similar to those employed at shopping malls,” army officials warn.
While the defense establishment is still uncertain about the exact route used by the Hadera suicide bomber to reach his target, one possibility is that
| Wednesday's Attack |
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| 5 killed in Hadera blast / Ynet reporters |
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Terror returns to Israel’s cities: Suicide bomber strikes in market in Hadera, north of Tel Aviv and scene of several previous attacks. Dozens of police cruisers, ambulances dispatched to scene. Five bodies recovered, one of them may be that of suicide bomber. Dozens hurt, Islamic Jihad likely behind attack |
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he entered Israel through a breach in the security fence near Jerusalem, Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported.
Army officials claim the inspections at all crossings along the security fence are superficial, due to a shortage of soldiers and appropriate equipment.
However, Police estimated Wednesday that the bomber entered Israel several days prior to the bombing and waited for orders to carry out the attack.
One possibility is that the bomber made his way through Palestinian territory from Kabatiya to Jerusalem and then proceeded to Hadera.
"A terrorist from Samaria does not need to make too much of an effort to pass from the West Bank to Jerusalem," an IDF official said.
A second, more logical possibility is that the bomber entered Israel through one of the security fence crossings, just as the bomber from the Netanya mall attack did several months earlier.
"The crossings along the security
fence have become a major route (of infiltration,)" army officials said, adding the crossings constitute "the fence's Achilles Heal.
Security fence in certain areas incomplete
One official said the crossings do not yet have the appropriate equipment or enough skilled soldiers.
"Without proper crossings the security fence has no complete security value," officials said.
According to the IDF, the inspections at the crossings are "superficial, like in the malls," and sometimes "it is enough for a driver to raise his hand and smile, in order to pass through without being checked."
Furthermore, Palestinian sources in the West Bank towns of Jenin and Tul Karem have confirmed that there is no problem passing through the Qalqiliya area.
Notably, the security fence crossings in the Ariel and Emanuel areas are still in construction stage, makin git possible to travel freely from certain areas in the West Bank directly into the heart of Israel.
A bomber who travels from Jenin to the Tapuach junction in the West Bank can continue along his way without encountering any crossings until reaching Tel Aviv. The defense establishment is hoping that this particular section of the fence will be completed within the coming year.
During the first two years of the Intifada, Hadera was known as the terror attack capital of the country.
However, over the past two years the town has enjoyed relative calm – the last bombing occurred in January 2002, when a terrorist entered a banquet hall, shooting and killing one person and wounding dozens during a Bat Mitzvah celebration.
- Yossi Yehoshua, Amir Ben-David and Natasha Mozgova contributed to the report
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