Last update - 00:00 31/12/2006
Police beef up presence to protect New Year's revelers
By Jonathan Lis, Haaretz Correspondent
Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi has directed the various police districts to beef up security ahead of tonight's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Additional police will be stationed around clubs. They will also direct traffic in areas popular with revelers and be on the roads to apprehend drunk drivers.
The police also announced that they would prevent access to the Temple Mount by tourists and Israelis during the Muslim holiday of Id al-Adha, to avoid possible confrontations.
The Police Operations Division announced that its plans called for thousands of police personnel, from the districts, police headquarters and the Border Police, as well as Civil Guard volunteers. Starting last Thursday night and continuing through tomorrow morning, these policemen will be stationed at the entrances to cities, in crowded areas within cities and at locations frequented by party-goers. Permanent and mobile checkpoints will be in place, and patrols and security checks will be carried out in order to increase the sense of a police presence.
The police are also expected to show increased presence at places of business, in order to enforce the laws against selling alcoholic beverages and cigarettes to minors. And the Operations Division's safety department will carry out inspections at places of entertainment to ensure compliance with all safety regulations before and during New Year's events.