Following the Shin Bet’s capture of a Kafr Aqab terror cell, Regavim is urging Israel to raze an illegally built structure whose outer walls form part of the security fence, warning it poses a direct strategic threat.
In the wake of the Shin Bet’s announcement of a major terror cell bust in Kafr Aqab, the Regavim movement is demanding the urgent demolition of an illegal building constructed directly along—and into—Israel’s security fence.
In an emergency appeal to Defense Minister Israel Katz, the Jerusalem Municipality, and the Land Enforcement Authority, Regavim accused the state of gross negligence, warning that the structure’s very walls serve as the barrier meant to stop terrorist infiltration.
“A simple jump from the room’s window—and the infiltrators pass to the other side,” said Yehuda Noam, Regavim’s Jerusalem coordinator. “Neglect by state authorities has escalated into an immediate strategic and security threat.”
According to Regavim, over 800 illegal structures—adding around 20,000 housing units—have sprung up in Kafr Aqab over the past decade without oversight. The group says the neighborhood has been a base for numerous terror attacks carried out by residents holding Israeli ID cards.
The security risks have been underscored by recent events. In January, during a hostage deal, senior Hamas operative Zagir Ashraf—sentenced to six life terms—was released into Kafr Aqab. His arrival sparked a provocative parade involving local residents that caused public outrage in Jerusalem.
Regavim also claims that rooftops of some of these illegal structures have been used for shooting drills, calling it “probably the last warning sign” before disaster. The group is demanding a criminal investigation into those behind the fence-built construction and full prosecution.
“We will continue to monitor and fight for the security of Israel’s capital,” Noam vowed, warning that the blurring of the barrier line has created a lawless zone ripe for exploitation by hostile actors.
