Senior IDF Officers Visit Palestinian Terrorists in Jail in Effort to Understand Their Motives
Source: Haaretz, Jan 15, 2016
Young people who carried out attacks in the latest wave of violence follow a different pattern than in previous periods.
Palestinian terrorists held in Israel after being captured while carrying out attacks or attempting to do so during the present wave of violence have received surprise visits in their prison cells over the past month: The commanders of the Israel Defense Forces’ regional brigades in the West Bank.
The army officials have come to meet with them at the orders of the IDF’s Central Command. The goal is to understand the background behind the actions of the young people, who are described as “lone terrorists” and do not belong to any terrorist organization.
The prisoners are asked what was the direct motive that led to their decision to carry out the attack, why they chose their specific weapons and target, what military dispositions they noticed at the site they chose, and many other questions whose answers could help the security forces understand and prepare better to put a stop to the violence.
Similar interviews, in much greater numbers, have been held by the Central Command’s intelligence officers and officers from the IDF’s coordinator of government activities in the territories unit – after the Shin Bet security service has completed its interrogations.
Two main understandings have come out of these sessions: One, which is heard in every discussion with senior officers dealing with the matter, is that Israel is facing a long-term, persistent phenomenon. Two, improving the tactical operations of the troops on the ground may help reduce the number of those killed and wounded (and it seems has some effect on reducing the number of attempted attacks), but the present response is far from being perfect, especially in terms of intelligence.
Read more: http://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-1.697571
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