Subscribe to Print Edition | Fri., October 24, 2008 Tishrei 25, 5769 | | Israel Time: 11:55 (EST+7) web haaretz.com   Back to Homepage Haaretz Toolbar Diplomacy Defense Jewish World Opinion National Print Edition Car Rental Books Haaretz Magazine Business Real Estate Peres Center Travel Week's End Anglo File

Last update - 13:44 20/10/2008 A preventable death By Haaretz Editorial Tags: Avi Dichter  Fatal car accidents are, regretfully, a common occurrence in Israel. About 400 men, women and children - more than one per day - are killed every year in collisions or run over on intercity highways and city streets. Every such accident is shocking, but it was not just by chance that the death of Meital Ahronson in Tel Aviv early Friday morning was particularly shocking. Her killing, which cannot be called an accident, was preventable. There is a guilty party: the driver of the SUV who sped through a red light and into a crosswalk; and there is a responsible party: the Israel Police. Drunk driving has turned in recent years into a plague. Revelers go out to clubs, and then get behind the wheel and kill themselves or others. That is why teams of police are supposed to check suspicious drivers and ensure they are not drunk. Drivers who fail the test are supposed to lose their licenses on the spot. Advertisement But on that night, at the center of Tel Aviv nightlife in the port area, the police did their work carelessly and unprofessionally. They did not impound the key of the driver whom they thought was drunk, and allowed his friends to flee in the car. They did not call in reinforcements and no roadblocks were set up. Within 10 minutes Meital Ahronson fell victim to a hit-and-run. If the fleeing car had been carrying a Palestinian, possibly on the way to a terror attack, the entire police force would have been called out instantly, along with the Shin Bet security service and other forces. They would have put into action the special procedures for a terrorist attack warning and roadblocks would have been set up all over the region, intelligence officers and their computers would have been frantically figuring out the identities of those involved, and the commanders would never have let up until the fugitives were captured. Everything would have been done, as everyone knows, to prevent an attack on the innocent. But that is exactly the same result of the wild behavior on the roads, which the police treat leniently. Police Commissioner David Cohen, for reasons known only to himself, has not appointed an officer to investigate the matter and has not demanded that the Tel Aviv District, whose traffic police were operating that night in the port area, examine what happened and why. Even without an investigation and a report one basic fact is clear: The police officers lacked professionalism, whether because they personally were not capable, or the procedures were not sufficiently strict for such events. This time you cannot complain that the police is investigating itself - this time it is not even doing that, even though the problem is not restricted to a single district or division. The problem affects the entire police force, including the national headquarters and the man at its head. For some reason we have not heard the voice of Public Security Minister Avi Dichter, who takes almost every opportunity to speak out on almost everything. The escape of rapist Benny Sela, in the same district but under the previous commander, encouraged Dichter to appoint a committee of inquiry, even though that event was only embarrassing and not fatal. Meital Ahronson's death has left Dichter silent. Civilian oversight of the police under his tenure is unsatisfactory. If Israeli citizens want a more professional police force, they will never get it from their elected leaders who are supposed to represent them vis-a-vis the police. Bookmark to del.icio.us   Palin as Olmert? Free flights and life of luxury characterize both the VP hopeful and our outgoing PM 'Hit a Jew Day' St. Louis middle school students face punishment over spirit week game gone bad   1.   They`re too busy trying to suppress cannabis use 18:06  |  newageblues 20/10/08   2.   The writer is right and the death of this sweet girl is a stain 19:19  |  Ron 20/10/08   3.   Israeli Traffic Cops 08:12  |  Mel McManus 21/10/08   4.   Preventing road deaths. 16:41  |  David Nigel Braham 21/10/08   5.   Vigilantes 04:19  |  beit aharon 24/10/08

Read & React 'Hit a Jew Day' lands St. Louis students in hot water Responses: 48 Peres in Sharm el-Sheikh: Saudi plan can bring peace to Mideast Responses: 28 Bradley Burston: When Sarah Palin runs for president Responses: 16 Powell's attack on anti-Islam rhetoric relieves U.S. Muslims Responses: 23 Anshel Pfeffer: Should Pius XII be made a saint? Leave that to the Vatican to decide Responses: 6 More Headlines 11:38 Shas declares it won't join Livni-led coalition 11:54 New Gallup poll shows 75% of U.S. Jews plan to vote Obama 00:40 Hamas: Jerusalem stabbing is natural response to Israeli aggression 09:39 What does a parent say when a child asks: How can a dad kill his children? 11:25 Jerusalem and Babylon / Should Pope Pius XII be made a saint? Leave that to the Vatican to decide 09:15 Powell's attack on anti-Islam rhetoric relieves U.S. Muslims 23:18 'To stab such a man, at such an age, was an animal-like act' 10:14 Up to 200 Jewish graves found desecrated in Bucharest cemetery 23:55 Culinary show on Hitler's favorite food comes under fire 03:17 In soccer, the Palestinians are on the map 03:24 Treasury putting together package to deal with economic slowdown 04:32 Police: Spate of hit-and-runs does not spell increase Previous Editions Select Day 23 oct 22 oct 21 oct 20 oct 19 oct 17 oct 16 oct 15 oct 14 oct 13 oct 12 oct 10 oct

Special Offers Advertisement Fattal Hotel Chain Perfectly located hotels on best resorts of Israel. Living in Israel Studying in English Click & Meet our students from all around the world Dial 013 for your long-distance calls and get all your money back US CITIZENS Vote for real change. Request your ballot today! Eldan Rent a Car Israel's leading car rental company offers you a 20% discount on all online reservations Jewish Singles Personal Ads Find the love of your life on JDate.com Israel's Premier Real Estate Website www. israel-property.com Hebrew Summer courses From $39.95 Junkyard Junk a car - get free towing nationwide and a tax-deductible receipt

Home | TV | Print Edition | Diplomacy | Opinion | Arts & Leisure | Sports | Jewish World | Underground | Site rules |

Real Estate in Israel | Travel to Israel with Haaretz | Hotels Israel | Restaurants Israel | Tourist attractions Israel | Shops Israel

birthright Israel | Search engine marketing

Haaretz.com, the online edition of Haaretz Newspaper in Israel, offers real-time breaking news, opinions and analysis from Israel and the Middle East. Haaretz.com provides extensive and in-depth coverage of Israel, the Jewish World and the Middle East, including defense, diplomacy, the Arab-Israeli conflict, the peace process, Israeli politics, Jerusalem affairs, international relations, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, the Palestinian Authority, the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, the Israeli business world and Jewish life in Israel and the Diaspora.

© Copyright  Haaretz. All rights reserved