Rabbi Noam Waldman Criticizes Security Forces' Response During West Bank Terror Attack

Rabbi Noam Waldman, head of the Nir Yeshiva, sharply criticized the Israeli security forces' handling of a terror attack near Givat Gilad in the West Bank on Friday. Two of his sons were present during the attack, and their firsthand accounts prompted him to call for urgent changes in security policy and rules of engagement in Judea and Samaria.

According to Rabbi Waldman, his sons witnessed dozens of Palestinians surrounding and assaulting their group with stones and clubs, while the security personnel guarding the tour did not respond with gunfire even as the situation escalated. He recounted that when a terrorist attempted to seize a soldier's weapon, the security forces delayed their reaction until after the weapon was taken and shots were fired. Only then did the soldiers open fire on the attacker.

Waldman argued that this incident reflects a broader failure in the security approach, criticizing the distinction made between terrorists and the general Palestinian population in the West Bank. He claimed that the prevailing public sentiment toward Jewish settlers creates confusion among soldiers, and insisted that all Palestinians in the area should be treated as hostile. He also highlighted numerous recent attacks on settlers that have not been met with decisive military responses, resulting in injuries but no fatalities by chance.

The rabbi placed responsibility on the Israeli government and military to provide real security for Jewish residents in the West Bank, warning that without it, settlers may resort to unauthorized actions. He called on the defense minister and military leadership to immediately revise their policies, advocating for collective punishment of entire villages harboring enemies and a clear change in open-fire rules to allow live ammunition against any Palestinian attacker using stones or clubs. "Jews need live fire to prevent attacks," he concluded.

Summary: Rabbi Noam Waldman condemned the Israeli security forces' delayed response during a West Bank terror attack witnessed by his sons, urging immediate changes to military policy and rules of engagement to better protect Jewish settlers and deter Palestinian attackers.

Points: - Rabbi Waldman criticized security forces for not firing during a West Bank terror attack involving his sons. - His sons reported attackers surrounded them with stones and clubs while soldiers delayed shooting. - Waldman called for changing security policy and open-fire rules in Judea and Samaria. - He urged collective punishment of hostile villages and treating all Palestinians as enemies. - The rabbi blamed the government and military for failing to ensure settlers' safety. - He warned settlers might act unlawfully without proper security guarantees.

Topic: security israel_relevant: true entities: {"people": ["Noam Waldman"], "organizations": ["Nir Yeshiva"], "places": ["Givat Gilad", "Judea and Samaria", "West Bank"]}