Dismissed Yitzhar Security Coordinator Accuses Shomron Council of Undermining His Work

The recently dismissed security coordinator of the West Bank settlement Yitzhar accused the Shomron Regional Council and its security department of deliberately cutting him off from communication channels and work contacts, which he claims delayed his arrival at the scene of a deadly attack. In a closed WhatsApp conversation on Friday, he blamed Yossi Dagan, head of the Shomron Regional Council, and local security officials for isolating him from operational groups, saying, "I arrived late because of your friend, Yossi Dagan, and all those security officers who cut me off from all the groups and contacts related to the work." He added that this disconnection caused confusion about how to reach the attack site, stating, "No one knew how to get there until they finally arrived."

The official reason given by the IDF for his dismissal was that he entered Palestinian villages without authorization. Residents claimed he was too aggressive and did not align with the military's operational concept. Following his removal, the Yitzhar secretariat condemned what it described as a complete abandonment of resident security and accused the Shomron security department of punishing the settlement due to internal power struggles. They warned that such actions, two and a half years after the October 7 attacks, endanger operational readiness, weapons availability, and intelligence capabilities. They demanded immediate intervention from the council head to restore basic security for Yitzhar residents. The Shomron Regional Council responded that it is closely monitoring developments regarding the dismissed coordinator and is working to find the best possible solution for all parties involved.