Six residents of the village of Tuba-Zangariyye in the north were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of breaking into the Golani Museum at the memorial site at the Golani Junction, and stealing a number of deactivated and old weapons that cannot be fired. The six, between the ages of 20 to 39, will be brought for a hearing at the request of police to extend their arrest.
In the evening, an alert was received at the "S.A.A. Zafon and Amakim" hotline from the alarm system installed at the site of the museum. The cameras were immediately opened up at the hotline and the dispatcher, Noi Kazetzkar, spotted a number of masked suspects at the site. She called police forces and the owners of the site and directed the police forces in the direction of the escape route of the suspects, who, as stated, were arrested on Saturday.
At the same time, Northern District police, Hashomer Hahadash members, scouts and soldiers conducted extensive searches in several areas in the Galilee where the investigation raised suspicions that the weapons were hidden, and found the stolen weapons thrown under bushes and rocks in an open area. The weapons were returned to the museum.
According to the suspicion, the weapons, most of which are in excellent condition, although they were deactivated so that they could not fire, were intended for re-use and use for criminal activity. The weapons found include a mortar, two MAGs, three IMI Galils, a sniper rifle, an Uzi submachine gun, a carbine firearm, an M16 assault rifle and an RPG.
The Golani Association stated in response that "in the last two years, the association has been working to renew and upgrade the Golani Brigade's memorial and heritage site. On Friday evening, thieves who lacked emotion, respect and values broke into the memorial and heritage site of the Golani Brigade - destroyed, broke and stole heritage items and deactivated combat equipment that was collected from the battlefields and was part of the combat equipment used by some of the fallen."
"In an extensive operation by Israel Police, tracker units, IDF forces and many volunteers, the suspects and the stolen equipment were apprehended. The Golani Association, the Golani Brigade and the Golani family would like to thank and express their great appreciation to all those who took part in this valuable and important operation, while showing determination and commitment to the mission, which are commendable," they added.