Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, after consulting with the limited cabinet and security chiefs, ordered a series of measures Friday following the terrorist attack this morning near Kfar Tel. The steps include demolition of the terrorist's home, intensified operations in terror-hub villages including weapon collection and work permit revocations, reinforcement of forces across Judea and Samaria, separation of traffic routes and checkpoints, and acceleration of farm regularization and establishment of new farms. The leaders expressed condolences to the family of Binyahu Melat, who was murdered in the attack, and wished a speedy recovery to the wounded.
Friday's joint statement from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz formalizes the security measures ordered in response to the terrorist attack near Kfar Tel this morning, in which Binyahu Melat was murdered and several others were wounded. The attack prompted a security consultation with the limited cabinet and security chiefs earlier in the day.
The timeline of the response unfolded throughout Friday. Initial reports at 08:22 Jerusalem indicated that Prime Minister Netanyahu had convened a security assessment with the IDF Chief of Staff, Shin Bet director, Military Intelligence head, and National Security Council chief. By 13:09, the assessment was underway with Defense Minister Israel Katz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, Shin Bet Director David Zini, NSC head Shmuel Ben Ezra, and senior IDF officers. The IDF also reinforced forces and halted troop leave in the sector. The joint statement, issued later in the afternoon, codified the measures that had been reported by Israeli media (N13 and Army Radio).
The statement confirms a series of concrete steps: demolition of the attacker's home; intensified operations in villages identified as terror hubs, including weapon collection and work permit revocations; reinforcement of IDF forces across Judea and Samaria; separation of traffic routes and checkpoints; and acceleration of farm regularization and establishment of new farms. The leaders expressed condolences to the Melat family, wished a speedy recovery to the wounded, and praised the resilience of the security forces and residents. The statement also urged avoiding any actions that could hinder security forces' operations. The measures were announced amid calls from council heads and bereaved families, who arrived at the scene earlier Friday demanding immediate security changes, as The Zioneer reported at 14:37 Jerusalem.
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