The defense establishment has decided to demolish the homes of the
two terrorists who murdered five members of the Fogel family in Itamar.
The decision by Defense Minister Ehud Barak and IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Benny Gantz, subject to approval by legal authorities, was broadcast Sunday morning on Army Radio.
The report claimed the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) had
recommended demolishing the homes of Hakim and Ajmad Awad, both of whom
had announced their pride in their crime.
Two parents, two young boys and a baby were brutally slaughtered as they slept in their home on a Friday night. Their 12-year-old daughter
and sister came home to find the carnage after attending a Sabbath
evening activity with her youth group. Only two of her little brothers
miraculously survived, having escaped the notice of the terrorists
during their murderous rampage.
"This was one of the most brutal terrorist attacks ever,
and the Shabak thinks the demolition is a punitive step that may deter
other terrorists from carrying out such horrendous crimes,” the report
quoted former Shin Bet chief Yaakov Perry as saying.
Several years ago, the Shin Bet, known by the Hebrew
acronym “Shabak” ended its long-standing policy of advocating the
demolition of terrorists' homes. The reason for the change was based on
the theory that doing so did not discourage terrorism and instead
resulted further legal complications.
Although the agency has not changed its opinion, officials said that
in the case of the Fogel murders, the specific viciousness of the
murders warranted demolition of the homes because several relatives of
the terrorists acted as accessories to murders.
The relatives, who live in the nearby village of Awarta close to Itamar, helped to hide their weapons and destroy the evidence.
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