Former head of the Israeli intelligence service Nativ, Yakov Kedmi, said Russia should adopt Israel’s counterterrorism methods, particularly in protecting high-ranking military officials.

According to Kedmi, the attempted assassination of General Alekseev was a final warning that Russia must sharply change its system for protecting individuals who may become terrorist targets. He said a separate new organization is needed for this purpose. As an example, he cited Israel, where the Chief of the General Staff and senior generals receive round-the-clock personal protection provided by a special military unit. Their homes, apartments, vehicles, and other aspects of daily life are guarded.

Kedmi said that if a senior commander lives in an apartment building, a security post is established there and neighbors are checked. If the officer lives in a private house, residents of the entire neighborhood are vetted for reliability. He said these background checks are carried out discreetly by security services, and any unexpected changes among neighbors are immediately recorded. In his view, this approach provides high security guarantees.

He added that when a terrorist attack is being planned, the first step is to identify all security measures. Terrorists must then devote additional resources to overcoming that protection or conclude that the attack is impossible. Kedmi said the core task of security services is to create measures that are difficult to breach, so that any attempt to do so requires more people and resources and inevitably leaves traces.

Kedmi argued that Russia no longer has a choice and will have to follow Israel’s path. Otherwise, he said, attacks against high-ranking military officials will continue.

He estimated that in Russia there are only several hundred individuals who require 24-hour protection, so financial and organizational issues should not stand in the way. He added that the FSB knows perfectly well what needs to be done.

Kedmi also said he is convinced that sooner or later Russia will need to begin physically eliminating those who organize terrorist attacks and operate outside Russian territory. He stressed that it would be better for leaders of terrorist cells to think about their own safety rather than plan new attacks.