Nice attack
Photo: AP
Steps to prevent next Nice or Sarona attack
The Public Security and Interior Ministries are working to implement the recommendations of a special committee to enforce security arrangements at outdoor sites that are frequented by crowds; heretofore, legislation has only covered internal malls, event halls etc.
The terrorist attack at the Sarona Market in Tel Aviv 2.5 months ago could have looked completely different. When the terrorists reached Sarona, they were deterred by the security guards posted at the mall entrance, and they sat at a restaurant and set off on their horrific attack from there.
Following the attack, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan (Likud) appointed a committee to re-examine the country's treatment of security in public spaces that are entertainment centers.
According to an Israel Police investigation into the Sarona attack, the open-air entertainment centers have been identified as the soft belly of Israeli security, and terrorists prefer to attack places lacking organized security.
Scene from the Sarona attack (Photo: AFP)
The Businesses Permit Law principally addresses closed entertainment venues, such as malls, hotels and event halls. Erdan's committee thus has recommended legislation to oblige local authorities to require security certification from the police for every compound that contains at least ten businesses and that has an area of at least 1,000 square meters.
Such a change would affect a good many open-air compounds that are currently not covered by the law, including the Carmel Market and the port in Tel Aviv Port, the Machane Yehuda Market in Jerusalem and the hotel area of the Dead Sea.
The latter was chosen as a pilot for this project, with new security protocols being implemented that will include different security "circles." The external circle delineates the compound with the help of alarm systems, CCTV, establishing checkpoints at important points and sending out armed guards on patrol.
The internal circle will include, in addition to the guards, a control room in continuous operation that will collect data from the site and be in constant contact with local police. The room is to be headed by a specially appointed person.
The police have reported that this program's implementation was accelerated following the Nice attack last month. The new program should set a number of obstacles to prevent a similarly successful attack in Israel.
Erdan has already spoken on the legislative and practical matters with Interior Minister Aryeh Deri (Shas). Erdan has explained that the police will maintain authority over security guards in case of responding to an actual attack. He explained, "The difference between an attack without casualties and an attack with heavy casualties…is the response time of civilians or armed guards, and we must ensure that sites with multitudes of people will always have somebody who can provide a response in a very short timespan."
