Police arrested an Israeli citizen who entered the Kirya base in central Tel Aviv on Wednesday and roamed the area, Ynet has learned. Police officers were astounded to discover that the same person had recently been caught near the Israel Defense Forces chief of staff's office.
The previous infiltration occurred several weeks ago, but the case was kept secret by the army. According to the police, the man had reached the chief of staff's office, but army officials claimed that he had been stopped at the building's plaza and said he had come to talk to the army chief.
The person was arrested again on Wednesday after soldiers detained him. A military official said the man had entered the camp using his reserve force certificate, walked about 100 meters (328 feet) before being stopped and turned over to the police. A remand hearing on his case will be held Thursday at the Tel Aviv Magistrate's Court.
The man's attorneys said he was not looking to harm anyone but was merely seeking work.
Security breaches in the IDF's most sensitive location have been alarmingly common lately and raise serious questions as to the army's security measures. Last summer a soldier who served in the Kirya base managed to enter the IDF chief of staff's office and steal the top commander's credit card details.
The citizen who was apprehended on Wednesday is a 36-year-old Ramat Gan resident who had entered the base a month ago without proper permits. The IDF ran an internal examination and turned the man over to the police but failed to prevent the second infiltration attempt.
During his investigation the man remained silent and refused to explain his motives for infiltrating the army base.
It should be noted that by reaching the IDF chief's office in the 14th floor in the previous incident the man would have had to pass at least two security posts – one at the base's gates and another in the entrance into the main office building. Both locations require the presentation of an ID card, special permits and other means meant to secure the passage of authorized personnel only.
The IDF chief's office is protected by additional security rings in the 14th floor. An unauthorized infiltration to the floor may pose a danger to two senior officers using the floor's elevators as well as other officers who visit the offices.