Kfar Saba Mayor Demands Stronger Security After Qalqilya Tunnel Discovery

Rafi Sa'ar, the mayor of Kfar Saba and chairman of the "Seam Line Communities Forum," has called on the Israeli government to enhance security measures for residents living near the seam line following the discovery of a tunnel in Qalqilya. The tunnel, found during a police and Border Police operation in Qalqilya, which is adjacent to Kfar Saba, was still under construction and reached a depth of at least 25 meters. Authorities discovered weapons, ammunition, and other equipment at the site and arrested four suspects for questioning. Signs of another excavation were also found.

Sa'ar stated that the incident highlights the security challenges faced by residents in cities and towns near the seam line, including Kfar Saba and other communities in the Sharon region. He emphasized that recent developments necessitate treating the threat not as a potential scenario but as a concrete security issue requiring practical, on-the-ground preparedness. The mayor stressed that residents expect the state to provide a sense of security and ensure local authorities and security forces have the necessary tools to counter developing threats near population centers.

He added that residents living near the seam line should not have to endure prolonged periods of security uncertainty. Sa'ar urged for strengthening defense, intelligence, and surveillance systems in the area to minimize the possibility of further threats. He asserted that the state must provide a response that allows residents to continue their daily lives with the assurance that security forces are prepared for their defense.

Sa'ar concluded that the tunnel discovery should serve as a warning to decision-makers, prompting a reassessment of security needs along the seam line, particularly in areas where Israeli communities are in close proximity to the West Bank. He stated that the residents of Kfar Saba and the Sharon region "deserve security, protection, and peace," urging the government to provide the necessary security umbrella without waiting for another incident to expand preparedness in the area.