Widow of Israeli Victim Binyahu Malt Urges Soldiers to Act Without Hesitation Against Terrorists

Esther Malt, widow of Binyahu Malt who was murdered near the West Bank village of Tel in Samaria, visited the site of his killing on Monday alongside his brother. She condemned the village of Tel, equating it with Rafah, and called for its demolition, stating, "The enemy is the same enemy." Malt criticized the current rules of engagement, urging soldiers and civilians not to hesitate in opening fire, emphasizing that "a second of hesitation can mean the difference between life and death."

Binyahu Malt was killed on Friday during a confrontation between Israeli hikers and Palestinians near Tel. A Palestinian assailant seized a weapon from a local security officer and shot Malt at close range. Esther Malt described the attack as a planned ambush involving about 150 attackers armed with stones and clubs. She expressed frustration that the village remains intact despite Israeli military actions flattening villages in Gaza, and lamented the lack of decisive response from Israeli authorities days after the attack.

She appealed directly to the Israeli government, Defense Minister, and regional military commander to reconsider the rules of engagement, which she called "absurd," blaming them for hesitation among soldiers during the attack. Malt praised her late husband as a brave fighter and security officer who knew the terrain well and vowed that his spirit would continue to inspire others to hike and live in the area.

Esther Malt also highlighted the ongoing threat posed by Palestinian Authority police, whom she equated with other hostile groups in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran, insisting they are all the same enemy and should be treated accordingly. She mourned the loss to her daughters, who are now fatherless, and expressed hope that Binyahu would be the last victim of such restrictive engagement policies.

She concluded with a strong call to arms: "Do not hesitate. Shoot without hesitation where necessary. The enemy’s intent to kill is clear. Better to be alive in prison than dead in a grave."