After extensively touring the south and north of the country and the confrontation lines localities and meeting with the heads of the authorities and evacuees from all over the country since the outbreak of the Swords of Iron War, State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman conducted today (Wednesday, 6.12.23) a tour of the security fence in the Jerusalem, Sharon and Samaria areas. This was for the purpose of examining at close hand the preparedness of the IDF and the Israel Police for providing the necessary security against terrorists for the residents of the center, Jerusalem and Judea and Samaria.
As may be recalled, less than one year ago the State Comptroller published a report about the effectiveness of the seam line barrier. According to the report, as of the end of 2021 48% of the seam line fence was not fully operational; in that year no less than 1.4 million entries of shabahim (persons staying illegally) to Israel were identified, when only less than 1% of them had been met with a response from the forces on site. Likewise, as of 2022 an average of 3,600 Palestinians infiltrated Israel every day through breaches in the seam line fence. All this was despite the fact that until the end of 2021 Israel had spent NIS 8.3 billion for the purpose of constructing the seam line barrier and for additional elements.
The tour included a meeting between the Comptroller and senior members of the Jerusalem Municipality and Drom HaSharon Regional Council, as well as the head of the Shomron Regional Council, Yossi Dagan. Senior personnel from the Israel Police and members of the emergency first response teams also participated in the tour. During the tour, the residents raised claims regarding the gaps and defects in the preparedness of the security forces for preventing a scenario of the incursion of terrorists into the localities and cities adjacent to the Palestinian population.
In the barrier stationed in Jerusalem, the Comptroller examined the security response and the gaps in the defense elements in the region between the Arab neighborhoods located outside the fence and which are considered a municipal area of the city, for example the Shuafat refugee camp, and the nearby Pisgat Ze'ev neighborhood. In the south of the Sharon the Comptroller examined the security situation in the localities next to the fence, for example Matan, and examined how the security forces ensure that the localities will not experience a similar attack to the one experienced by the Gaza Envelope residents. In Samaria the Comptroller witnessed the IDF's activity in safeguarding the residents of Judea and Samaria and visited Barkan with the Council head, Yossi Dagan. This was against the background of the audit report on the subject of "Securing the Traffic Axes in Judea and Samaria", a draft of which has been recently circulated to senior members of the political and military echelons for their response, and against the background of the surprise audit of the IDF outposts on the northern border before the war, whose publication has been suspended at this time by the State Control Committee.
As Comptroller Englman said: "The massacre on October 7th deeply affected the sense of security of all Israeli citizens. Alongside the Gaza Envelope localities in the south, and the Confrontation Lines localities in the north, the localities of the Jerusalem Envelope, Gush Dan Envelope and Judea and Samaria are also at risk.
We must not allow ourselves to be complacent. I am on a visit to the outskirts of Jerusalem, next to the Shuafat refugee camp, and I have been shown very significant gaps in all matters pertaining to the security elements and security needs of the forces operating on site. The government and the security forces must ascertain that the separation fence is fully operational and examine the concept and effectiveness of the barrier.
I met with many residents who do not have a sense of security and who are in fear of their lives. The Prime Minister, the Minister of Defense, the Commander-in-Chief and the Police Commissioner must ensure the safety of all citizens of Israel, alongside the important activity being carried out on Israel's southern and northern borders".
