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IDF Uses Power of Persuasion to Dissuade Next Lone Attacker

(Ynet News) Ron Ben-Yishai - Col. Roman Gofman, the Etzion Brigade Commander, says, "It is possible to locate the lone terrorist before he has taken the final decision to stab or run over someone and stop it. This requires two things: locating the potential attacker and then putting pressure on him or persuading him not to carry out the attack." At 4 a.m. in the Palestinian town of Beit Ummar in the West Bank, fighters from the Kfir Brigade make their way to the addresses of fewer than 20 potential lone attackers that have been identified. The soldiers go from one address to another and knock on the door - if possible without shouting and drawing their guns - and go inside to talk. Experience shows that these talks, before a potential terrorist carries out his plan, are very influential. The women and young children are sent into another room and then comes direct conversation between men. A soldier says in fluent Arabic: "Be careful. We see your children. They are engaged in activities that endanger you and endanger themselves. Make sure they don't get into trouble." Gofman tells me: "Palestinian families...do not want their sons to commit suicide....So they are therefore a powerful influence through whom we try to act." "In earlier periods terrorists wanted to kill Jews and some were willing to become martyrs for it. Now they want to become martyrs and if they can kill a couple of Jews while accomplishing that then all the better. One way or another they are lauded and gain status in Palestinian society. They are the target of incitement from all directions. Lone attacks are a result of a vicious cycle whose essence is imitation and inspiration."
2015-12-09 00:00:00
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