Historical Dictionary of Israeli Intelligence

gregation for excessive anti-Arab religious zeal. Kahane was mur-

dered in 1990 by El Sayyid Nosair, a member of an Arab terrorist

cell operating in New York. After his death, his adherents created

the Kahane Chai (“Kahane Lives”) movement. Israel branded both

movements “terrorist organizations.” On 24 February 1994 Gold-

stein opened fire on Muslim worshipers in the mosque in the Cave

of the Patriarchs in Hebron, killing 29 people and wounding more

than 100 more. Palestinians in the mosque then beat Goldstein to

death. In response to this event, Israel issued orders on 27 February

1994 for the administrative detention of five members of the Kach

and Kahane Chai and announced that some settlers in Hebron

would be disarmed and approximately 15 would be barred from en-

tering the West Bank. A commission was created to investigate the

Hebron killings. Israel also announced the planned release of 1,000

Palestinian prisoners on 7 March 1994. On 13 March 1994 Israel

outlawed Kach and Kahane Chai and made any financial or verbal

support for these groups illegal. The IDF clarified orders on the use

of weapons against Jewish settlers, stating that troops could open

fire in any life-threatening situation involving either Palestinians or

Israelis.

The most heinous act of Jewish terrorism against a Jew was

committed on 4 November 1995, when Yigal Amir assassinated Is-

raeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin. Amir was a member of Eyal,

an offshoot of the racist Kach. Just as the concept that a Jew would

not kill an Arab was broken by Goldstein on 27 February 1994, the

idea that a Jew would not kill another Jew was shattered on 4 No-

vember 1995.

Over the years, Israel has gained experience in dealing with the

various kinds of terrorism by diverse means, including gathering in-

telligence and defensive and offensive measures, as well as legal

means. The problem in combating terrorism remains resolving the

democratic dilemma of combating terrorism effectively and preserv-

ing liberal values. See also BUS 300 AFFAIR; INTERNATIONAL

POLICY INSTITUTE FOR COUNTERTERRORISM (ICT).

TERROR THEATER/ZIRAT TERROR (ZITAR).The desk in Mil-

itary Intelligenceresponsible for watching terror activities, assess-

ing their trends, and providing early warning.

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