Israeli Police Commander Warns of "Dangerous Enemy" Near West Bank Border

Amir Cohen, Commander of the Israel Police's Central District, expressed grave concern over the security situation along the seam line, particularly near Qalqilya and Tulkarm. During a helicopter tour of the area, Cohen highlighted the numerous breaches in the separation barrier, which he described as fragile and easily penetrable. He noted that terrorists could exploit these gaps to infiltrate Israel, posing a significant threat to nearby civilian populations.

Cohen stated that "a dangerous enemy" resides in the seam zone, with daily pursuits of infiltrators crossing from enemy territory. He emphasized that the path to terrorism often begins with exploiting these breaches, and that even a small group of heavily armed individuals could reach Israeli cities within minutes. Beyond ground infiltrations, Cohen also voiced concerns about the potential use of explosive drones, citing a recent incident where a drone dropped a grenade on a criminal in Nazareth.

Reflecting on the October 7th attacks, Cohen, who served as Southern District Commander at the time, recounted his firsthand experience and the valor of his officers. He asserted that the desire of Israel's enemies to harm Jews remains strong, despite military actions against groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. He believes that lessons have been learned since October 7th, leading to improved intelligence sharing and a better understanding of the police's role in preventing attacks.

To enhance preparedness, Cohen is advocating for a change in security doctrine, integrating the police and the National Security Ministry more deeply into intelligence assessments. He proposes the creation of a police secretary role, similar to national security advisors for the Prime Minister and President, to ensure the police have a more dominant role in national security.

The establishment of the new Eyal Sector, set to be officially inaugurated on October 6th, is a direct response to the lessons learned from October 7th. This sector will cover 81 kilometers of the security fence and will be staffed by a dedicated tactical unit to combat infiltrators and a unit focused on nationalist crime. While acknowledging the military's primary responsibility, Cohen stressed that the Eyal Sector will be optimally prepared to respond to any event similar to the October 7th massacre in the Gaza envelope.

Cohen also addressed the issue of Arab Israelis involved in nationalist crimes, noting that while they are a minority, their actions, which include planning attacks and collaborating with enemy states, pose a serious threat. He highlighted recent arrests of such individuals and stressed the need for this issue to be on the decision-makers' agenda, asserting that the normative Arab society would also benefit from their removal.