Channels

Photo: Yariv Katz
Halamish fence
Photo: Yariv Katz

Halamish residents fume at failure to install CCTV cameras

Defense Ministry insists plans were in place to install security cameras in the settlement where Friday's deadly terror attack occurred, points to fence being equipped with touch sensors; IDF investigate how terrorist infiltrated despite sensor warning and seeks explanation for delayed response.

The Ministry of Defense announced Sunday evening that security cameras are to be installed throughout the settlement of Halamish following Friday’s terror attack in which a terrorist stabbed to death Yosef Salomon, 70, and his children Haya Salomon, 46, and Elad Salomon, 35 in their home.

 

 

Residents of the settlement—adjacent to Ramallah—heaped criticism on the security apparatus in the aftermath of the attack for not upgrading security provisions in the area, including the installation of CCTV cameras, despite the fact that a budget for such measures had already been approved.

 

According to the residents, the budget had already been given a green light after a large fire broke out in the settlement which was caused, they claim, by a Palestinian arsonist.

 

Halamish fence (Photo: Yariv Katz)
Halamish fence (Photo: Yariv Katz)

 

The Defense Ministry pointed out however that the boosted security measures had already begun to be put into effect, with the perimeter fence being upgraded in the last year with touch sensors providing warnings of attempted infiltration. Moreover, it said that the cameras were set to be installed in the coming year.

 

Since the preliminary investigation got underway into how the terrorist managed to enter Halamish, Ynet learned that a warning was indeed given when the terrorist, Omar al-Abed jumped the fence but that the security forces failed to prevent him from carrying out his murderous intentions.

 

Indeed, the terrorist managed to stay within its walls for 15 minutes while butchering the family until he was eventually shot by a neighbor who happened to be a soldier serving in the IDF elite canine Oketz unit.

 

The full responsibility for the security of the residents, inside and outside the communities, is that of the battalion and the regional brigade of the IDF.

 

But in the vast majority of cases, the first to arrive at the scenes of attacks or attempted attacks by terrorists who have managed to penetrate the settlements’ walls are the members of the community's internal security forces. These include civilian first responders, armed forces, budgeted by the Defense Ministry and trained by the IDF.

 

Investigations in the IDF are currently trying to account for the prolonged time lapse between the fence warning and the response of the Kfir Brigade.

 

Either way, the Defense Ministry insists that it has been undertaking efforts to beef up security in Halamish.

 

“In the past year, the defense establishment has been carrying out extensive work to strengthen the security components of Halamish. Within this framework, the settlement has already been surrounded by an electric fence. The last part of the project was planned, regardless of the murderous attack, to be carried out in the near future.”

 


פרסום ראשון: 07.23.17, 21:52
 new comment
Warning:
This will delete your current comment