The Oct. 7th massacre, during which terrorists used pickups and various off-road vehicles, revealed a neglected problem in Israel: the issue of dual-use products. Until 2015, Israel prohibited the import of motorcycles and off-road vehicles into the Palestinian Authority (PA) due to concerns they might be used for terrorism. Likewise, fertilizers and other items that could be used to make explosives were also not sold to the PA until then.
An order by Defense Minister Moshe Yaalon in 2015 lifted these restrictions leading to an influx of dual-use vehicles like motorcycles, jeeps, and off-road vehicles into the PA.
Various entities established considerable economic interests in these new imports and made significant profits.
At the same time, this ending of restrictions led to a deterioration in the security situation with home-made explosive devices similar to the caliber found in Lebanon, becoming common in Judea and Samaria. Only recently however, after several soldiers have been killed and injured has the IDF begun addressing the issue of dual use products.
Nonetheless, the directive on the matter remains unchanged. The Civil Administration's Dual-Use Equipment Division is responsible for reviewing requests and issuing permits for the transfer of dual-use equipment and materials to the PA, with the aim of ensuring that such equipment or materials are used for their original purpose and not diverted to terrorism.
Furthermore, even the concerns over the potential uses of motorcycles and off-road vehicles in potential attacks from Judea and Samaria has not prompted Defense Minister Gallant to revise the directive.
Yitzhak Nativ, an attorney from Yitzhar, reached out to various authorities at the beginning of the war, but did not receive an answer. “In the massacre from Gaza on Simchat Torah 4x4s and other vehicles like jeeps and ATVs were widely used. The attack was enabled not just by the munitions and weapons but also by the mobility and access to these dual-use products that allowed them to move freely across unpaved areas.”
"To carry out a major attack on Israeli communities both inside and beyond the Green Line, aside from weaponry, the terrorists require transportation capable of moving across open terrain. Unfortunately, Hamas and other terror groups in Gaza made extensive and strategic use of such means of transportation.
“I was shocked to see the number of these vehicles used in the attack and wonder who gave the approval to bring such a massive number of dual-use vehicles into the Gaza Strip.
“In recent years, Palestinians in Judea and Samaria have also come to possess large numbers of ATVs without an understanding of the risks they pose.
“We now face the prospect of a similar attack against communities in Judea and Samaria, as well as a potential invasion from PA cities into the Sharon region in Israel. These dual-use technologies allow the threat to come not only from roads and access routes but via dirt paths that could be cleared by tractors, allowing ATVs and other vehicles to drive through.
“The IDF Central Commander must sign an order prohibiting the use of ATVs licensed by the PA throughout Judea and Samaria. Any such vehicle captured should be confiscated by the IDF. Additionally, future imports of such vehicles into the PA territories should be restricted,” wrote Nativ.
"This is a matter of our very survival. It is, quite literally, a step that will limit the scale, speed, and success of a potential future attack."
Nativ highlights that a similar order was issued several years ago by the Central Commander prohibiting the use of drones in all areas of Judea and Samaria, and that such orders can be renewed periodically to overcome legal objections.
The ‘Protecting Our Homes’ Forum, which includes residents from the Binyamin region, approached the IDF last week demanding changes to the current directive and an operation to confiscate all-terrain vehicles.
"For several months, following the outbreak of the war, we observed a worrying phenomenon in the Arab villages surrounding the Dolev-Talmonim communities. All-terrain vehicles (mainly motorcycles and rangers) are moving through the villages for hours and sometimes even approaching our communities. This is in addition to the theft of all-terrain vehicles from Israel to the PA, which has surged in recent months.
“In 2005, the Civil Administration prohibited the transfer of dual-use equipment and materials, including all-terrain vehicles, to PA territories to ensure that such equipment and materials would be used for their intended purpose and not redirected to terrorism. However, in 2015, this ban was lifted as part of a broader policy easing restrictions.
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“After October 7, the danger posed by the presence of such vehicles is clear, as they are capable of traversing mountainous and challenging terrain quickly, enabling attackers to access Jewish communities from Arab villages within minutes.
“The aims of our neighbors are well known, and this is extremely concerning. After the horrific massacre we experienced on Simchat Torah, we expect you and the heads of the security establishment to reinstate the ban on bringing such vehicles into the PA and to immediately confiscate the vehicles currently there before a disaster occurs, G-d forbid," wrote the forum.
The Lavi Organization has filed a Freedom of Information Request to understand the current procedures on dual use products. A response from the authorities is still pending.
"Unfortunately, our complacency blew up in our faces in the Gaza Border region,” said Lavi. "Military officials cannot continue to ignore the increasing armament of PA residents with all-terrain vehicles and ATVs."
We contacted the Civil Administration and the Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (COGAT), who stated that the issue is under review. However, it seems that no one in the Israeli security system is taking action yet. If in 2015 there was sufficient risk, there can be little doubt that today is no less, and almost certainly more dangerous.
COGAT stated, ”The security establishment is working to prevent the entry of materials that may pose a security risk."
