Krav Maga: Israeli security forces urged to study deadly combat system

“When the soldier was attacked by the terrorist, his magazine fell to the ground. As such, he was unable to respond by opening fire,” explained the Deputy Commander of the Jordan Valley territorial brigade, Lt. Col. Shalom Eizner.

As a result of the Jordan Valley and other similar incidents, soldiers serving in the area have been instructed to avoid standing alone in areas where they might get rides to or from the base, and to be aware of any suspicious people coming toward them, according to the IDF. 

The territorial brigade also decided to increase teaching soldiers Krav Maga (hand-to-hand combat), an Israel unarmed combat system.

“Ultimately, there was physical contact between terrorist and soldier,” said the Deputy Commander. “If the soldier was more practiced in Krav Maga, we assume he could have overcome the terrorist.”

The attack took place when the soldier was waiting at a bus stop outside of the Tomer community on route 90, and was attacked by a Palestinian. While the soldier waited for the vehicle that would take him to base, the Palestinian came up behind him and began beating the soldier with a rock. The soldier was moderately injured in the head, according to an IDF press statement. 

An Israel Police car driving by at the time saw what was happening and shot in the direction of the Palestinian after he tried to attack one of the police officers.
 
A preliminary investigation found that the man was not a resident of the Jordan Valley and that he’d spent the evening in the village of El Petzl after arriving from the Nablus area.

“This is an isolated incident and we are not aware of any connection to an organization at this point. It’s impossible to foresee this type of incident,” said Lt. Col. Eizner.

“The events in the Gaza Strip and Judea and Samaria region affect the country. There is tension in the air, and it seems that the sole attacker gains motivation to attack,” he said.

COMMANDO KRAV MAGA

Shortly after the Yom Kippur War in the 1970s, the Israeli security forces sought to improve upon its close quarter combat system. It was at this time that Moni Aizik, a member of one of Israel’s most elite Commando units, was assigned to evolve the military’s existing hand to hand combat system. Moni was sought after because of his extensive martial arts experience and battlefield experience.

In his youth, Moni dominated the Judo and Jiu Jitsu arena winning 7 National titles. After turning 18, Moni served his country as a member of one of Israel’s most elite Commando units in the Israeli Defense Force or IDF.