Israel Debates Protection for Chabad Houses
In the wake of last week’s terrorist rampage in Mumbai, Israel is faced with new security questions. The Nariman House, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish run hostel and religious center, was one of the targets in the attacks. The question for Chabad Houses around the world, such as Nariman, is how to protect them when they are so lightly guarded and filled with unarmed citizens.
It’s clear that we don’t want our Chabad Houses to turn into barricaded forts,” said Rabbi Menachem Brod, official Chabad spokesman in Israel. “The whole idea of Chabad is that we are open and accessible to Jews traveling abroad.”
However, Israel is at a loss when it comes to defending Jews abroad. “Of course we care, of course we worry, but there’s not much we can actually do,” said Yigal Palmor, a spokesman for the Israeli Foreign Ministry. “Not only is it not governmental, it’s not even Israeli.” According to a former head of Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the Jewish state is heavily restricted in what kind of protection it can offer nongovernmental institutions like Chabad when they are abroad. Realistically, the best they can do is coordinate with other governments to keep the organizations informed of any potential threats or warnings.
“Israel does not enjoy sweeping global authority for securing its people outside Israel’s sovereign control, and this must be well understood,” Halevy said. “I would say that any Jew in the world who wants absolute security and safety as a Jew is invited to come live in Israel.”
Official Israeli government buildings around the world have been on heightened alert since the assassination in Syria of a military commander with Hezbollah. Israeli officials denied involvement, but still braced for retaliation. It is unlikely, though, that the alert led to any serious security modifications at any Chabad Houses.
According to multiple accounts, it only took two gunmen to seize the Chabad House. However, it should be noted that the Taj Mahal fell almost as quickly and it had its own private security.
The troubling issue that Israel also has to deal with is what appears to be a new terrorist template with Chabad Houses and other soft Jewish targets in the cross hairs.
“What is clear is that Israeli sites, or at least sites that are connected to Israel, have become targets — be they primary or secondary — for the loose network of global jihad,” wrote one Israeli journalist.
According to the Times of India, the lone surviving gunman claimed that they hit the Chabad House with the intent of killing Israelis.
Jamie Hughes
