The above device, fixed lately to the top of the separation wall north of Bethlehem, is a remote-controlled rifle, according to Palestinian sources. Ma’an News published a report on the device three days ago, saying it’s “unprecedented” and is causing anxiety among Bethlehemites. A Facebook page called “Bethlahem Today” has the same report.
Here’s a crude automatic translation of the Arabic report:
Israeli occupying forces erected Sunday, machine guns equipped with cameras on top of the security wall surrounding the Bilal bin Rabah mosque, North of Bethlehem.
Israeli forces provided each machine gun cameras from large high-capacity and possibility of photography relatively long distances and to Bethlehem in the direction of the education of the old junction.
This allows the cameras to Israeli soldiers monitor the city of Bethlehem and targeting citizens far below that reveal themselves and sees them one using special monitors in the occupied area of the mosque and surrounded by walls from all directions.
Jareer Kassis, an Arabic speaker in the States, says:
@LRJarrar @MaxBlumenthal Maan (Arabic) reported on it few days ago w pics, said they’re installed at Rachel’s Tomb. http://t.co/bUSBK3n7G0
— Jareer Kassis (@JareerKassis) April 16, 2014
The reports are consistent with this article in Wired, 2007, on Israel developing remote controlled machine guns.
For years and years, the Israeli military has been trying to figure out a way to keep Palestinian militants in the Gaza Strip from crossing over into Israel proper. The latest tactic: create a set of “automated kill zones” by networking together remote-controlled machine guns, ground sensors, and drones along the 60-kilometer border. More
© 2014