Today (Monday) the prison service is holding a conference in Modi'in to draw lessons from the escape of six terrorists from Gilboa prison in September, 2021.
The conference, which is taking place two months after the publication of the government inspection committee's report on the incident, is part of the process of gleaning conclusions from the report and a tool for improving the organizational, operational and intelligence capabilities of the Shin Bet.
During the conference, division heads are exploring failures and intelligence gaps which led to the escape.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir said at the event: "The prison service is important as part of the entire State of Israel's fight against terrorism. This organization is on par with the IDF, the Shin Bet and the Israel Police. We managed to bring a budget increase of NIS 9 billion to the ministry which will also strengthen the Prison Police, and only recently I ensured an increase of NIS 1,000 to prison guards in an unprecedented decision."
"Just this past weekend I was horrified to hear that Jewish prisoners were kept without basic conditions, with bedbugs, while in the cells next to them there are evil terrorists in better conditions. This will not happen on my watch. There will be no discrimination. Terrorists will not receive more lenient conditions than other prisoners. Prison conditions for terrorists are in the process of a fundamental change, I know how important this change is to the prison commissioner and I thank her for it. I have every hope that a series of recommendations from the Gilboa escape committee will arrive and be passed by the cabinet," he added.
Prison Commissioner Katy Perry said that: "all along I have advocated the concept that the role of the inspection committee is to point out systemic and specific failures in the organization, and when the conclusions are reached - we are obliged to implement them with the aim of ensuring that a similar case does not take place."
"The committee's conclusions provide in-depth insights and are an important step in understanding the events, but do not take the place of our organizational learning, because at the end of the day the responsibility lies with the prison service, its commanders, and officers. The Prison Service is a learning, developing, and progressive organization. We are committed to being the best in what we do - and we will get that done," she concluded.