Israeli army calls for inspection of soldiers `“terrorist potential`

An investigation conducted by the Israeli army regarding the Shfa-Amr terrorist carried out by an Israeli settler-soldier earlier this months killing four Arab residents of Israel, called on the Israeli security devices to combine their efforts to identify Israeli soldiers with “terrorist potential”.

The panel is headed by Brigadier General Ika Abarbanel, led an investigation which pointed out what was described as “serious flaws” in intelligence sharing between the different branches of the army, and security agencies. 

The committee decided that a number of measures should be immediately adopted to increase the possibilities of spotting potential terrorists. 

One of the recommendations suggests that the ties between the Shin Bet security services and the army should be strengthened regarding the profiling of soldiers who are considered to be posing potential threats, while maintaining privacy of the individual. 

The panel also suggested issuing a ‘sensitivity evaluation,’ that would identify irregularities among certain soldiers that demanded attention and should be followed up during the military service.

Insufficient information sharing was one of the main conclusions found by the panned; this insufficient sharing enabled the terrorist Eden Natan Zada, who opened fire at the passengers of an Arab bus in Shfa-Amr he set on board killing four, including two sisters.

If sufficient information was shared Natan Zada would have been released from the army or arrested for desertion.

Israeli military branches were aware of the mental health condition of Natan-Zada, especially after a mental health officer recommended lowering the psychological profile of Natan-Zada, and after he spent time in a military prison. 

“These important factors were not shared”, the panel reported, “there had been no concern that he could carry a terror attack”.

Also, the panel recommended that the army should reveal the basis of its policy of allowing soldiers who go on leave with their military-issued weapons.

Two week ago, two separate military investigative committees proposed barring the non-combat soldiers from taking their weapons back home with them, adding that those soldiers pose a danger because they are still inadequately trained, and could use their weapons to carry criminal felonies, games, or even commit suicide.