Israel’s not-so-secret weapon

The IDF caught a big fish—Israel’s most wanted man in the West Bank. They’ve been after him since 1998.

Among the attacks Hamed is believed to have helped plan and direct were:

A car bombing in Zion Square in the heart of Jerusalem five years ago, an attack which killed 11 people.

A March 2002 suicide bombing at the Moment coffee house adjacent to the Prime Minister’s official residence in the city, in which 12 people were killed.

A double suicide bombing in September 2003, which killed a total of 17 people at the Hillel cafe in Jerusalem’s German colony, and adjacent to the Tsrifin IDF base.

A December 2001 double suicide bombing in Jerusalem’s Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall, in which 11 people died.

A July 2002 bombing at the cafeteria of the Hebrew University in Jerusalem that killed five Americans and four Israelis.

Here’s where the not-so-secret weapon comes in (emphasis mine):

Local resident Mohammed Azzam, 48, said he watched the arrest from his balcony facing the two-story building where Hamed was holed up. The ground floor of the hideout consisted of shops with large iron doors. Two apartments were on the floor above.

Azzam said that at the start of the operation, an IDF bulldozer rammed the iron shop door. Over the loudspeaker, troops then called out Hamed’s name in accent-free Arabic. They told Hamed they would demolish the building with him inside if he didn’t surrender, Azzam said.

Israelis who are able to “pass” as Arabs are the not-so-secret weapon, and Israel uses them to great advantage.

As I mentioned in this post, New York City is now making use of Arabic-speaking undercover officers. This is dirty work, and very dangerous. But it works.