YATOM PRESS CONFERENCE
Jerusalem, 27 February 1994
(Communicated by the IDF Spokesman's Office)
The following are excerpts from a press conference given on Sunday,
February 27, 1994 by the Commanding Officer of the Central Command,
General Dani Yatom:
The purpose of this meeting is to share the details about what we now
know concerning the terrible massacre that occurred at the Tomb of the
Patriarchs on Friday morning. I would like to emphasize that we are
still in the midst of the inquiry; it has not ended. However, I decided
to present these details because I think it is important to describe
what we think happened which contradicts some of the rumors which
have spread across the area.
At 05:30 hours on Friday morning, there were several hundred Moslems
praying in the Tomb of Isaac. At that time, about 15 Jews were praying
in the Tomb of Abraham. The mission of the Israeli soldiers at the site
was to protect and make sure that things in the mosque were under
control.
On this morning, about four soldiers who were to have been on duty there
were not at their post. Accordingly, instead of there being nine
soldiers (including one officer), there were only five soldiers
(including the officer). I would just express my opinion that, even if
the other four soldiers had been there, it would been almost impossible
to thwart the intention of any lunatic murderer Israeli or
Palestinian who had decided to commit a massacre and then suicide.
The murderer, Baruch Goldstein, entered the place at about 05:30 hours.
He was equipped with his Galil rifle and dressed in uniform (with the
rank of captain). Goldstein served as a physician in the reserve army.
Apparently, he entered and fired about 111 bullets while the
Palestinians were praying. He took almost two minutes to empty three and
a half magazines. Yesterday, [the IDF] conducted an experiment; I wanted
to understand how long it would take to empty three and a half
magazines. One of soldiers accomplished this in about 30 seconds. One
must consider that it took Goldstein twice or three times as long.
As soon as the noise of the shooting was heard, the officer on duty
immediately tried to enter the room but failed as the mob of those
running away pushed him backward. He then ran to enter via another
unlocked door, but he was blocked by Palestinians who were probably
afraid that he was another [assailant]. He also failed, for certain
reasons, to enter through a third room. When he arrived back at his
original place, a squad of reinforcements came through the gate to
assist (having taken a few minutes for them to arrive), but it was
already too late. When they entered the room, he found several
Palestinians and the body of the murderer, later identified as Doctor
Goldstein.
Two soldiers shot about 7-9 bullets in the air, and one other soldier
nearby also shot upward toward the ceiling. It has been evidenced that
no Palestinian was hit or hurt by the bullets of Israeli soldiers while
fleeing the mosque.
There was another incident near the Beit Kahil junction [a main
intersection in Hebron], and we also made inquiries in this regard
because some Palestinians had charged (two days ago) that something had
happened at a local hospital. What we now know, from our
still-incomplete inquiry, is that a mob of about 1,000 Palestinians
gathered there at 06:30 hours and blocked the main road to Israel
throwing large rocks and Molotov cocktails. An Israeli outfit of about
nine soldiers, later reinforced to several dozens, arrived on the scene
and started to push back the attacking Palestinians (until the Israelis
reached the top of the hill). The distance between the road and the
hospital is about 500-700 meters.
Thus far, the conclusions of the inquiry have been as follows: We think
that about 7-15 Palestinians were wounded by Israeli soldiers who fired
having felt that their lives were endangered. One Palestinian, or
perhaps two, was probably killed at the Beit Kahil junction incident;
one tried to hurl a Molotov cocktail and the other tried to throw a
large rock. According to what we know at this point and we will
continue to investigate no Israeli rounds were fired at the nearby
hospital and no other Palestinians were wounded or killed in this
action. We also questioned the Palestinians now being treated in that
hospital; there are 12 Palestinians with whom our people met, and they
all said that they were injured at the Tomb of the Patriarchs. According
to their own testimony, none of them were injured near the hospital.
There are another two wounded Palestinians who are unconscious so we
cannot know where they were wounded.
Q: Have you already begun to implement some of the measures discussed
today in your meeting with Prime Minister Rabin?
A: Yes, we have already started to institute these measures. I signed
five military-administrative detention orders yesterday against
suspected Jewish extremists. One of those involved was located last
night and he will be spending three months in prison; the other four
were not at home, and the police will continue searching for them. Some
of the five belong to the Kach movement. The others are generally
affiliated with the organization.
Q: What kind of recommendations will you be making with regard to
changes in security arrangements? Will there be changes in the prayer
schedules of Moslems and Jews?
A: In Hebron, there are many places where Jews and Palestinians live
together. Jews live in the 'Hebrew' quarter of Hebron, among thousands
of Palestinians. Indeed, a clash between Israelis and Palestinians is
something that can potentially occur every day not just in the Tomb
of the Patriarchs. There is continuous friction of movement between Jews
and Palestinians in many places throughout Hebron; the Shrine of
Abraham, where the massacre occurred, is one such place. Of course,
after such an event, an inquiry is opened. We will examine many areas of
activity including the status quo of Jewish and Moslem prayers. Another
area is the security arrangements in the mosque area. For obvious
reasons, I cannot discuss our conclusions or recommendations with you
right now. We are, however, investigating the matter.
Q: What can you tell me about the disarmament of certain settlers?
A: We are going to disarm settlers. The matter is still under discussion
so I cannot give you exact figures. Still, some of the settlers will be
disarmed.
Q: (inaudible)
A: I think that we will continue to do our utmost in order to fulfill
our very complicated mission. I have many times said that there is no
way to frustrate any Israeli or Palestinian who intends to conduct
terrorist activities on their own initiative. There are many Israeli and
Palestinian targets, so to speak, for an Israeli or Palestinian who
wishes to carry out a terrorist act. As long as Israelis and
Palestinians are living together in this part of the world, and as long
as there is continuous friction mainly in Hebron, but in many other
places a small group of terrorists will be able to conduct
assassinations and suicide [attacks], and no force in the world will be
able to stop them.
Q: What sort of steps will the army now take?
A: Firstly, we have been escorting school buses for years. We will have
to evaluate the warnings of the intelligence services and consider each
of them individually giving the correct response to each situation.
When we have the information, it is relatively simple. The problem is
when we do not know, and there were many terror attacks about which we
had no advance warning.
Q: (inaudible)
A: According to the arrangements, since 1980, every Jew has been
permitted to enter the place while carrying firearms not only those
in uniform on condition that he take the magazine out of the weapon.
It was not something extraordinary or unusual to see this doctor (who
was well-known by the soldiers) wearing his military reserve uniform and
carrying his rifle.