BEER SHEVA -- Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra told an audience in Beer Sheva on Saturday that the proposed cut of 2,000 police officers would hurt law enforcement.
“Israel's police does not have the tools to deal with rising crime,” Ezra said.
According to the minister, “the police cannot make a show of presence on the street. If it were not for the complaint of the Jackonts, it’s doubtful that the Trojan House would have been uncovered.”
Ezra said that he has been requesting more sophisticated tools in the war against crime, such as eavesdropping devices and the use of accountants and economists.
He also said he wanted to see improvements to the police’s intelligence department so “that it will be on par with the Shin Bet.”
Ezra said that in the next cabinet meeting he would raise the issue of the rising crime wave. However, he said that the courts could also play a helpful role by toughening up their sentencing.
“It’s inconceivable that thieves sentenced to house arrest go at that same night and steal. It’s inconceivable that a judge should tell me that he fears that the supreme court with lower the sentence of someone given eight months for stabbing someone,” Ezra said.
Police not to collect arms from settlers
Discussing the upcoming disengagement, Ezra said that the police would not collect weapons from the settlers in Gush Katif. Rather, the settlers themselves would turn in their weapons.
“We are talking about an excellent and praiseworthy group of people. They are not problematic. The weapons will be collected by locals and be handed over to the military… ,”he said.
Ezra said that he supported handing control of the Phildelphi Corridor in Gaza to the Egyptian military and said that the reduction in Palestinian violence has helped the tourism industry.
