Координаторы безопасности Голанских высот предупредили ЦАХАЛ о критическом дефиците оборудования, угрожающем жизни жителей

Over 20 local security coordinators in the Golan have issued a sharply worded warning letter to the IDF and defense establishment, saying that a serious shortage of essential security equipment is putting residents’ lives at direct risk, Channel 14 News reported. They cited multiple failures, including security vehicles that fail to meet current operational standards, vulnerable entrance gates, and flawed threat‑classification methods for different yishuvim. The warning comes amid growing concern that, over the past three to four months, the defense establishment has shown declining willingness to reinforce Golan yishuvim or provide them with adequate security resources. The yishuvim in the Golan are located at the intersection of the Syrian, Lebanese, and Jordanian borders, with infiltration attempts from Jordan adding another layer of threat from the east. At the same time, the IDF maintains that civilian communities themselves are an integral component of its new defense strategy. A central issue raised in the letter is the condition of security vehicles. According to the coordinators, the vehicles allocated to them fail to meet standards set by the Home Front Command itself, including engine performance, off‑road capability, towing strength, and capacity for personnel and equipment. They emphasized that the Golan’s rugged terrain makes proper off‑road vehicles indispensable. Security teams cannot rely solely on paved roads, and unsuitable vehicles could prevent rapid response to attacks. In some cases, teams would be forced to take longer paved routes instead of crossing open terrain, losing critical time during emergencies. The coordinators also raised concerns about the entrance gates to yishuvim, noting that sme gates are not automatic, while others are poorly secured and can be rammed open. They pointed to the lessons of October 7, when breached gates in southern Israel played a significant role in the Hamas attack. They also criticized the system used to classify threat levels for yishuvim in the area, asserting that the current distinctions are inaccurate and fail to reflect the real dangers on the ground. Meanwhile, the Home Front Command’s response regarding the vehicles has angered local officials. According to the report, security coordinators were told that having partially functional vehicles was preferable to having none at all. The Command also said the vehicles meet standards set in 2024. Local officials counter that the requirements have since changed and that the referenced standards are no longer valid in 2026. They insist the vehicles provided do not meet current operational needs. The Home Front Command later issued a statement acknowledging problems in the threat‑classification system, following complaints from the regional council and local security officials. Golan officials are now urging the defense establishment to take the coordinators’ warnings seriously and address the deficiencies they have identified. They stress that those responsible for day‑to‑day community security are best positioned to identify vulnerabilities that could endanger residents. The IDF was asked to respond to the concerns raised in the letter—including issues related to vehicles, gates and threat classification—but had not provided a full response at the time of publication. (YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)