Minister tells police: Boost Israeli presence in East Jerusalem
Public Security Minister wants to strengthen Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel police East Jerusalem Israel newsPublic Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch has instructed police to strengthen Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem, Haaretz has learned.
In a document titled "Ministerial Policy 2009-2010," Aharonovitch calls for increased police presence and activity in the east of the city in order to "increase law enforcement and improve police services there, part of a wider move to strengthen Israeli sovereignty over East Jerusalem."
This is part of a general police policy in recent years to strictly enforce a law prohibiting Palestinian Authority activity in East Jerusalem, in keeping with the Oslo Accords.
Aharonovitch also called for increased police activity in non-Jewish towns and villages within Israel, "to increase the feeling of identification with the state and its symbols of authority, and to increase state sovereignty in those areas."
Aharonovitch stated that this means increasing police visibility and presence, increasing police availability and shortening response time. He also called for improved relationships with residents of non-Jewish areas within Israel, and to encourage them to join the civil guard.
The minister also wrote that the police must invest to change the public's perception of it and its importance, in order to improve its work. Aharonovitch also instructed the Israel Prison Service to improve coordination with the police to better combat crime in jails.
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While the Pals refuse to speak w/ Israel, Israel's taking advantage of the lull and going for what she should have years ago. It's your land, build it and they will come. No time like the present. It sends the loudest message of all. Possession is nine tenths of the law. And, wasn't it the Jews that G-d chose to give the law? Grow baby grow!!!
too bad there's so many palestinians living there isn't it?
Police presence..Authority? Control? or Servicing the public. If the latter..fine.. Anyway..where is Israeli presence in: increased Health Services, Education, Culture, Sport facilities.. Do we prove sovereignty by "show our Authority" or by giving the population service they rightfully deserve?
....unfortunately your political leaders have decided that you will have to leave us in the foreseeable future. See you in another life...:)
Israel seems to believe that possession is determined by the number of thieves and their collaborators found sitting on property they have stolen. On the contrary, this practice will bring sanctions on Israel just as surely as Apartheid South Africa brought down sanctions for indecent and inhuman behavoour. Israel's land kleptomaniac binge, repeated endlessly since 1967 under the pretext of "peace negotiations" insists that time for sanctions has arrived.
how do they define it? Entire WB + Israel proper or what? I assume Gaza is excluded?
While a necessary thing to do, this statement is just stupid. People that do not live here and know the realities (not least of which is that Arabs in East Jerusalem are adamant in their wish to retain Israeli citizenship, and G-d fordid, not to become more victims of poverty and propaganda for the so-called Palestinian government)cannot and will not understand the need for this action. People outside of Israel, that only read the anti-Israel crap, will see this statement as another reason to side with the lunatics that want all Israelis and Arabs to suffer. Wake up world
Perhaps the government should also consider boosting the level of services it provides to E. Jerusalem residents. It takes little to see the difference between East and West.A good place to start would be the education system, which is sorely lacking in this part of the city; there are not enough classrooms and most are far too over-crowded.This too me should take precedence over boosting the police force!
If the state of Israel is serious about increasing the feeling of identification of the inhabitants of East Jerusalem with the state, it should start upgrading their conditions of living to parity with West Jerusalem. What about building classrooms for the thousands of East Jerusalem children who couldn't start the school year because there is nowhere to put them? And improving the roads? and the rubbish collection?