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Bush: a cause for concern?
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| By Israel Insider staff December 21, 2007 |
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A bodyguard in the security detail that failed to protect Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin on the night of his murder in 1995 will be the senior Israeli responsible for protecting US President George W. Bush when he visits Israel next month, Yedioth Ahronoth reported Thursday.
The unnamed bodyguard, who has since been promoted -- it is unclear why given the failure of Rabin's security detail to prevent him from being assassinated -- is reported to be in a frenzy of activity prior to the US president's expected three day visit beginning January 9th.
On Monday, Yediot reported, a meeting on the issue took place at the Prime Minister's Office with the participation of PMO Deputy Director General Amnon Ben-Ami, Rabin's bodyguard, officials responsible for the official ceremony, and representatives of the President's Residence, the IDF, the police, and the Jerusalem Municipality.
In the meeting, Rabin's ex-bodyguard spoke of the difficulties expected during the president's visit and of frantic preparations in the Shin Bet. He stated that the event would involve a security operation beyond anything since Rabin's funeral. "Eight thousand policemen will provide security during the visit in addition to members of the American secret service," he reportedly said.
Yediot also reported that the Americans are sending over to Israel three giant Galaxy cargo planes with special protection equipment, including armored vehicles. The Americans apparently refuse to use any Israeli equipment.
On Thursday, the bodyguard will conduct an introductory conversation with representatives of the president's personal bodyguard staff, and the two sides will scout the locations the president is set to visit. It is doubtful that the venues will include the parking area at Rabin Square, where the former Prime Minister's security detail allowed convicted assassin Yigal Amir to wander around freely in the supposed "sterile area" before sauntering up behind the Prime Minister, who was totally unprotected from the rear, and getting off at least one shot.
Explanations for the total failure of Rabin's security detail to protect the Prime Minister include the belief held by nearly half of Jewish Israelis, according to polls, that Amir was in fact a patsy who was set up to shoot blanks, not real bullets, and that the actual assassin was in fact a Rabin bodyguard. One Rabin bodyguard, Yoram Rubin, reportedly injured the night of the Rabin assassination, was immediately promoted to head the protection unit of Rabin's successor as Prime Minister, Shimon Peres. Rubin later served as the bodyguard of former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, bringing him to the hospital on the night of his first stroke.
Bush is evidently hoping for a stroke of better luck. |
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