"After the Simchat Torah massacre, the government and the security establishment were obligated to draw lessons and prepare appropriately for defense in all arenas," Englman stated regarding his decision to conduct an audit on the Jerusalem area's readiness for terror incidents and various security risks. "The deficiencies in the report are disturbing and must keep the political and security leadership awake at night," he added.

In practice, the comptroller's office conducted the audit between 2024-2025, covering many diverse components. For example, the areas of responsibility of the relevant bodies were examined, led by the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit; reference threats and scenarios in the sector were detailed; the effectiveness of operational responses in the area was examined; and breaches in the barrier along the border were identified. Operational concepts with deficiencies were also examined, including the lack of synchronization among the numerous bodies operating in the sector and the misalignment of crossing infrastructure with population growth.

However, the report noted that the audit was completed before the murderous terror attack at Ramot Junction in September, in which six people were killed.

Command and control

One of the fundamental issues examined in the comptroller's report on this matter is the command and control of the various bodies located in the sector and operating at the crossings. According to the audit, for 20 years, the Israel Police has managed the various crossings without formulating a relevant operational concept that establishes the rules, principles, and methods of operation at the crossings.

It also emerged that there is a lack of clarity regarding the subordination of the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit to the Judea and Samaria District of the police, and that the fact that the body operates, de facto, under four different arms (Central Command, Jerusalem District in the police, Judea and Samaria District in the police, and Border Police commander) has not been examined for 22 years and creates confusion and difficulty in operating forces in the sector. In general, it emerged that the multitude of forces in the sector (including Border Police, the IDF, the police, and civilian security guards) leads to operational gaps in the activities of the bodies.

Another aspect regarding command and control relates to the police's lack of governance "in a certain area" in the Jerusalem periphery. The report does not specify which area, but it can be assumed that it refers to Kfar Aqab in northern Jerusalem, where the police simply cannot enforce the law. According to the report, "the failure to implement the police's responsibility leads to a lack of governance and lack of municipal services, when the lack of governance damages the police's ability to enforce and act when its intervention is required."

It was also written that when there is activity in the place, it is often accompanied by disturbances and shooting at the forces securing the police, and that there is "the ability of Palestinians to pass from the territories into the area. Some of them hold blue identity cards that allow free movement in the territory of the State of Israel, which they exploited to carry out terror attacks in the state's territory, and the lack of a basic response constitutes a security risk to citizens of the State of Israel."

It should be noted that Kfar Aqab is under the municipal responsibility of the Jerusalem municipality, which invests almost no resources in the area, while security responsibility is in the hands of the IDF. In practice, only in recent weeks did Kfar Aqab's local leadership approach the Jerusalem municipality to discuss solutions to various municipal problems within its jurisdiction, but it is unknown whether the meeting will help in the complex reality at the site.

Additional deficiencies were recorded in the training of Border Police soldiers that is not suitable for activity at the crossings, in the frequent turnover of crossing commanders which creates "difficulty in continuity of functioning and instructions," in the shortage of weapons among police forces in the sector, as well as in the fact that there is no central body in Israel whose purpose is to handle all land crossings that are not international.

The operational response

The conclusions raised in this part of the audit should keep decision-makers awake at night, no less.

According to some of them, until the October 7 massacre, the Jerusalem District police did not formulate relevant reference scenarios for the sector regarding mass infiltration, which, in practice, damaged the district's readiness and the readiness of the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit for escalating terror incidents.

Only in August 2024, almost a year after the Simchat Torah massacre, did the preparation of the said order by the Jerusalem District police and the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit finish. Even then, the order did not include operational instructions defining how to prepare for a scenario of infiltration from multiple points along the seam line, although the Shin Bet assessed that the Palestinians feel they have the ability to cross at the crossings easily and without real risk.

It also emerged that on the Palestinian side of the points where the barrier exists (which extends for 61% of the border), there are buildings built above the wall as well as piles of earth waste, which allow easy stone throwing and throwing of firebombs.

Another unusual conclusion that emerged in this chapter is that, during 30% of the audit time, the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit's order of battle was allocated to tasks "not directly related" to routine security along the barrier.

Among these tasks are the forces' handling of disturbance incidents in the Judea and Samaria territories, escorting detainees, and reinforcing police forces in the Jerusalem District. According to the comptroller, "This fact, alongside the 11.5% gap in the police roster compared to the standard, raises concern regarding the ability of the Border Police Jerusalem periphery unit to meet the tasks assigned to it within the framework of its responsibility for the Jerusalem periphery area. Continued failure to meet routine security tasks endangers the residents of Jerusalem and allows threats to enter Israeli territory."

The report presents a clear example of this, revealing that during five months, the recording of alerts by IDF female observation soldiers' operations rooms about infiltration incidents in the Jerusalem periphery sector stood at hundreds and was significantly higher than the recording of Border Police alerts, which stood at only dozens and raises concern regarding the method of intelligence collection and creation by the Border Police.

Incidentally, regarding IDF female field-observers, it was written that "despite the threat from the Judea and Samaria sector, there has been no change in the concept of locating IDF collection operations rooms in the Jerusalem periphery sector, and they remain near the seam line. This reality, even after October 7, when female field-observation soldiers who stayed at an outpost near the Gaza border were killed and kidnapped, may put the female observation soldiers in the Jerusalem periphery sector at risk."

When the comptroller's office addressed the barrier structure itself, it emerged that there is no barrier at all for tens of miles. "Palestinians can enter Israeli territory without any control or inspection, risking Israeli residents," it was written, alongside presenting grim data indicating the entry of thousands of illegal residents each year through the breaches.

"There is a danger of terror incidents because threats can infiltrate through the openings into Israeli territory and Jerusalem. The barrier does not manage to provide the required defensive response, and the lack of agreement between the Defense Ministry and the National Security Ministry regarding the party bearing budgetary responsibility for upgrading the barrier perpetuates the problem and endangers Israeli residents."

Inspection, security, and infrastructure alignment

The audit's findings on inspection, security, and infrastructure alignment also raised quite unusual conclusions. Among other things, it was found that the reduction of the military police soldiers' order of battle in June 2023 led to a situation where the "Erez" battalion of the corps could perform, in practice, about 69% of its tasks – a fact that significantly damaged the battalion's operational activity.

In fact, from that month onward, there was an additional reduction in the battalion's order of battle, widening the mismatch between the tasks the battalion was required to perform and what it could actually accomplish. The manpower shortage led to lane closures and a "bottleneck" at the crossing entrance. Similarly, incidentally, in the blue police activity. According to the comptroller, "in light of the lack of appropriate infrastructure and shortage of manpower, the police struggles to inspect vehicles at the crossings at the required level," while waiting times and congestion pose a safety risk to inspectors and those waiting to cross.

It also emerged that the defense minister and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT) agreed on granting entry permits to Palestinians during the Ramadan period without taking into account the police's ability to enforce these numbers. "According to the police, it was a partner in the discussions, but its recommendations are not taken into account in decision-making," according to the comptroller. The inspection during Ramadan revealed that the infrastructure at the Rachel, Qalandiya, and Zeitim crossings does not allow the entry of all worshippers within the defined six-hour timeframe, and that the congestion poses a real danger to life. According to the comptroller, beyond the danger to life, this is "a reputational damage to the State of Israel as allegedly not allowing freedom of worship within its borders."

Interestingly, the comptroller also noted to the Transportation Ministry, which decided to widen the road adjacent to the Tunnels Checkpoint without examining the impact of the move, that this contributed to the creation of "bottlenecks" at the crossing.

Implementation of government decisions

The comptroller noted that government decisions made over the years regarding the barrier were not brought for discussion at the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet, "although two decades have passed since their approval." Among other things, successive governments did not discuss the decision to civilianize several crossings, did not implement the decision to transfer authorities from the IDF to the police in several areas, and did not ensure that the Shin Bet would be the body responsible for professional guidance regarding passenger and luggage inspection at all crossings, except those for which the IDF is responsible.

"The responsibility for correcting the deficiencies detailed in this report lies primarily with the prime minister, defense minister, national security minister, chief of staff, police commissioner, Central Command commander, Jerusalem District commander, and Border Police commander – each party at its level," the comptroller concluded.

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Israel Defense Forces recruits have become slightly less interested in serving in the Border Police and more interested in joining the Infantry Corps, latest data reveals.

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Figures show that the number of new recruits between November 2018 and November 2021 who marked the Border Police as their first choice decreased by 6%, whereas the number who wanted to serve in the Infantry Corps increased by 8%. Four years ago, less than a quarter of new conscripts preferred to serve in Infantry brigades, whereas by 2021, they made up a third of all recruits.

The Golani Brigade, which has been one of the most sought-after infantry units for years, has recorded a 5% increase in the number of recruits seeking to serve in its ranks in the last four years. For the first time, in the winter draft, the Golani and the Border Police reported the same number of recruits wishing to serve in their units.

The second, third, and fourth most popular infantry brigades are Nahal, Givati, and Kfir.

A slight decrease was reported in the number of recruits marking the Air Defense Corps as their number one priority in the last four years. Other sought-after units among recruits are the Front Home Command's Search and Rescue Brigade and the Combat Engineering Corps. There is less interest in serving in the Armored Corps.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday 39 trainees will complete their Air Force pilot course, with the celebrations to be attended by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, Defense Minister Benny Gantz, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, President Isaac Herzog and outgoing Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin. Four of the 39 trainees are women, one fighter pilot and three navigators.

The four female graduates will join the 66 women who have completed the IAF's course since 1994. That year, IDF soldier Alice Miller, an immigrant from South Africa, petitioned the High Court of Justice to be allowed to try for her wings. In a historic ruling, the court decided the ban on female cadets was illegal.

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Two Border Police officers were wounded Friday morning when a car rammed into their post in the Israeli-Arab city of Umm al-Fahm. The incident occurred following a night of violence in which a 33-year-old resident was murdered in the city.

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Officers present at the scene immediately opened fire on the vehicle. According to the police, there were two occupants inside the vehicle: one man, in his twenties, died after being taken to the hospital; the other was lightly hurt and arrested at the scene. One firearm, bullets, and gloves were confiscated from the vehicle.

Security officials believe the ramming stemmed from criminal motives rather than nationalist ones and was connected to disputes between rival families in Umm al-Fahm.

A police statement said one of the Border Police officers sustained light-to-moderate injuries, and the second was lightly injured.

Gunfire was reportedly heard in the city overnight Thursday and buildings were set ablaze in apparent revenge for the killing of Mohammed Hamza Burgel, who was shot to death while driving his car. The passenger in his vehicle was critically injured after Burgel lost control of the vehicle and hit a truck.

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Israeli police officers were approached by rioters as they entered a housing complex after receiving reports of a shooting and the burning of housing units and cars. Crowd dispersal measures were implemented and residents were arrested during searches.

i24NEWS contributed to this report.

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Two months after becoming head of the Israel Border Police's Southern District, Commander Tomer Eldar believes he is in the right place at the right time to tackle the challenges of high crime in the Arab sector. 

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Eldar served in an elite tactical unit where he gained the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with such crimes, document and them and find a way to convict the perpetrators. In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, he explained that due to the alarming violence in the Arab sector, the Southern District was working to enhance its command and control capabilities.

"It is no longer about reinforcing a team here and there; we understand that the situation has changed and we are now focused on delivering results."

Eldar also said there the Southern District that there is a manpower shortage, which means that "the number of tasks far exceeds the number of people we can assign to them and if I could double our staff we would be able to conduct many more operations."

Q: Your efforts to curb the illegal arms trade are not always appreciated. 

"I don't just fight for every gun. I fight for every bullet, magazine, and weapon. Those who think that the guns are just laid out for us in the living room do not understand the incredible effort involved. Over 100 weapons have been rounded up this year – rifles, pistols, explosives, and grenades. This is a large amount, and it required a lot of effort [to achieve this].

"There are regular clan rivalries that are very common: Two families get into a conflict and a feud begins. In the end, they show their power through violence. More often than not, it's the innocent ones who get hurt. But what is most difficult is that there is very little cooperation on behalf of members of the sector. Even if 1,000 saw the shooting, they do not come forth as witnesses."

Eldar further lamented the state's lack of response to the alarming situation. 

"We must not forget that the Border Police is not the only agency responsible. For years, parts of the population have been neglected and ignored by the state, perhaps because it was convenient to turn a blind eye." 

Q: How about your war on the illegal trade of marijuana?

"Our force alone has busted 400 illegal marijuana growing operations. We destroyed the sites and continue to invest great efforts in this. We also cooperate with the Nature and Parks Authority and all other environmental agencies that can help."

Q: There have also been cases of gun theft from IDF bases.

"Three months ago, a large amount was stolen from the Natan Base and we tracked down the thieves and their vehicle. These were hundreds of gun parts that could have been assembled into dozens of weapons. We  are now in the process of tasking an entire company to this issue alone." 

With regard to the sense of insecurity among the area's residents, Eldar insisted on distinguishing between the facts on the ground and the perception people have.

"The sense of insecurity is already improving. We have made 2,000 arrests this year so far, and we respond to every incident in full force, sending out trackers, investigators, and drones. Also, agricultural crime is down 13%."

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Family members of Border Police officer Barel Hadaria Shmueli, who was fatally shot and wounded by a Palestinian terrorist along the Israel-Gaza border on August 21, are demanding a commission of inquiry into his death.

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A letter was sent to IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Aviv Kochavi, as well as other senior military officials, by attorney Ran Cohen Rochberger, who represents the family.

It said, among other things, that the IDF failed to properly prepare for dispersing the violent Palestinian rioters, used insufficient means and stationed soldiers along openings in the barrier, despite the obvious dangers.

Amateur video from the Palestinian side taken during the rioting showed a protester running up to the concrete barrier and firing a pistol into a hole reportedly used by Shmueli. He succumbed to his wounds at Soroka Medical Hospital on Monday afternoon.

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A record number of female recruits have joined the Border Police this week, heralding a policy shift that seeks to substantially increase women's service in the force. Currently, 320 women are slated to begin their training as part of the border security branch of the Israel Police.

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The Border Police began deploying female officers in combat roles about 25 years ago, pioneering the move for the rest of the security forces. Recruits are usually screened for these roles as part of the conscription process Israeli teens undergo at the age of 18.

Demand among potential servicewomen is expected to be just as high ahead of future recruitment rounds. According to data obtained by Israel Hayom, 26% of recruits in August 2021 named joining the Border Police as their first choice, and almost 90% of all recruits named joining the border security branch as a preference in general. 

According to the military data, for every 10 recruits wishing to join the Border Police, there is only one spot available. To that end, Border Police Commissioner Amir Cohen instructed the corps to establish two more companies in the upcoming year, which for the first time in Border Police history will have a majority of female officers. 

According to senior corps officials, the plan is for 65% of manpower in these companies to consist of female officers. 

Currently, female officers make up about 35% of the Border Police's entire operational manpower. They hold key positions in every unit and also hold professional roles, such as combat medics, dog trainers, detectives, weapons operators, and more.

The first such company will be established as soon as the recruits complete their training on Aug. 21. They will be stationed in the Jenin sector in the West Bank, a strategic area for Israel's internal security and one infamous for being a hub of terrorist activity.

Cohen commended the new recruits, saying, "Now is your turn to join the corps whose purpose is to keep Israel safe," he said. "I am proud to be in charge of the corps that is setting an example to all of society by integrating and training female officers. From now on, the responsibility lies on you, that of being a Border Police officer. May you carry it with pride until the end of your training and in your future service."

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A record seven women on Sunday completed the Border Police's officer training course, two of them cited for outstanding performance.

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The seven women were among a graduating class of 23 candidates, who will now join the Israel Police.

The Border Police was a trailblazer in terms of integrating women in combat roles. As early as 1995, for the first time in the country's history, women were assigned to combat duty, and ever since the Border Police has taken significant steps toward breaking the glass ceiling.

Border Police commander Deputy Commissioner Amir Cohen has established a clear policy of integrating female fighters in command positions and promoting them throughout the corps. Several months ago, a female officer was assigned to command a combat company in the Border Police's Coastal District. In the coming weeks, female officers will be appointed to lead combat companies in Judea and Samaria, a company in the north and to train recruits.

As stated, seven female candidates finished the recent officer training course, two of them receiving citations for outstanding performance.

One of them, Inspector Maayan Sadeh, said: "I'm more than proud to be serving in a corps whose values are based on equality of opportunity, and I feel I'm fulfilling my potential as a fighter and commander in the Border Police. I learned and developed a lot during my training as an officer, and I'm waiting to begin in my new assignment and make an impact."

Inspector Reut Nahmias, who was also cited for her particularly exemplary performance in the course, said: "I'm thrilled to wear the officer's ranks, which for me symbolize the long path I've been on. It's a given today and natural for women to be officers and fighters just like the male officers and fighters, and here, in the Border Police, female fighters are assigned to key command positions in the most challenging places."

Continuing and even surpassing its path of equal opportunity, the Border Police's current class of officer cadets includes 16 women.

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The Palestinian man who reportedly aimed his vehicle at a group of Border Police was shot and killed. ‎

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The wounded policewoman was evacuated to Hadassah Medical Center on Mount Scopus. ‎

Relatives of the Palestinian man, identified as Ahmed Erekat, 27, expressed doubt that he ‎would have perpetrated such an attack, as he was planning to get married next week. ‎

‎"There is no way on earth he would attempt to carry out an attack," his cousin, Hiba Erekat, said.‎

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Channel 13 broadcast late Saturday what it said was a newly obtained video of last year's incident, in which the young Palestinian was stopped outside Jerusalem as he tried to enter Israel.

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In the video, the Palestinian, holding a backpack, is seen standing in front of Israeli Border Police forces and told to leave. "Get out of here!" a woman screams at him.

He turns around and walks away with his hands in the air, as the forces continue to shout at him to leave. A male voice tells him to lower his hands and "walk normally," while the female voice yells at him to "run already."

Nearly 20 seconds after being sent away, the man is shot in the back from a long distance, screaming in pain as he crumples to the ground. The Israeli security forces are not visible when the shot is fired.

The Palestinian's identity was not immediately known, but the report quoted police as saying he was not seriously hurt. Border police often use the sponge-tipped bullets as a "nonlethal," albeit painful, tool to disperse crowds.

In a statement Sunday, the Justice Ministry said it has completed a criminal investigation after holding four hearings into last year's incident. It did not say when it will announce its decision.

The Israel Police said the female policewoman was removed from the force immediately after it learned of the incident. It said other police involved in the incident were re-assigned.

The TV report quoted the woman's lawyer as saying she did not fire the bullet. It also showed what it said were text messages between a different police officer suspected in the case, in which he bragged of shooting the Palestinian to his girlfriend, who calls him a "hunk" and attaches heart emojis.

Israel's leading human rights group, B'Tselem, stopped cooperating with the IDF three years ago after accusing the army of whitewashing such cases.

"This exceptional documentation shows what, sadly, is an unexceptional event: Israeli security forces hurting a Palestinian for absolutely no reason," said B'Tselem spokesman Amit Gilutz. "Such instances are the direct result of the culture of impunity fostered by Israel, which is crucial to the perpetuation of its military control over the Palestinians."

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Overnight Wednesday, special Border Police forces raided the Al-Amari refugee camp near Ramallah, where they arrested two fugitives suspected of involvement in terrorist activity.

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When the raid was over, a vehicle drew up alongside the forces, apparently in an attempt to run them down. The car plowed into the Border Police's armored car and sustained major damage. The forces spotted the suspicious maneuver and noted that the Palestinian was holding something that appeared to be a knife, and opened fire, wounding him.

The would-be attacker is reported to be a resident of east Jerusalem.

After the incident, riots broke out in the camp. Protesters threw rocks and Molotov cocktails at the border police, who used crowd dispersal measures.

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