Smotrich in Danger
The Shocking Reason Police Stormed Smotrich's Speech and Made an Arrest
Three Palestinian illegal residents were arrested meters away from Finance Minister Smotrich during a Tel Aviv conference, exposing major security protocol failures.
A major security failure was exposed on Wednesday when three Palestinian illegal residents from the Hebron area were arrested just meters away from Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich as he delivered a speech at a conference in Tel Aviv. The incident, which unfolded during a live event at a hotel, has raised serious questions about the security protocols surrounding high-level Israeli officials.
The three men were reportedly employed by a company hired to build the stage for the urban renewal conference at the InterContinental Hotel. In doing so, the illegal workers bypassed all security checkpoints managed by the Magen Unit, which is responsible for protecting government ministers.
According to a witness, the drama unfolded as Smotrich was speaking to the audience. Plainclothes police officers from the Yarkon District, assisting the Magen Unit, noticed three suspicious young men speaking in Arabic in close proximity to the minister. The officers decided to question them on the spot, and it was quickly discovered that the individuals, all in their twenties, were in Israel without the required permits.
"We were sitting at the conference, and suddenly we saw something totally bizarre," the eyewitness said. "Police officers started questioning a few young men while the minister was speaking. They were taken out of the hall, and it was only later that we found out they were illegal residents. It was a bizarre incident."
Suspects Attempt to Deceive Police
A police statement confirmed the arrests and provided additional details on the security lapse. The statement noted that during the security sweep, the three suspects, despite claiming to be residents of Jaffa, were identified as residents of the Palestinian Authority.
The men, along with their 27-year-old employer from Kafr Qasim, were arrested and taken into police custody. The employer allegedly hired the men through a third-party company. All four individuals are expected to have their detentions extended by a court today.
The incident underscores the ongoing security challenges in Israel, particularly concerning the employment of illegal Palestinian workers. For now, the focus remains on how the three men were able to breach multiple layers of security to get so close to a senior government official.