Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz proposed Sunday that former police officers, including Border Police, may be called to do reserve service as part of a police crackdown on violence.
Mofaz made the comments at the weekly cabinet meeting, which focused mainly on a wave of violence that has gripped the nation over the past week.
Mofaz said the country must expand the scope of "special" reserve duty so that officers and former border policemen could return to duty under police auspices, in order to help prevent violence.
He explained that the plan calls to establish a reserve company for former policemen, to be called up as the need arises.
Idea originated five years ago
The idea of creating a company of police reserves originally surfaced in response to the October 2000 riots in which 13 Arab Israelis were killed. Police were caught unprepared and undermanned for protests at the start of the Aqsa Intifada.
Sources close to Mofaz stressed Sunday the minister's idea was only an "idea, and not a formalized plan."
They said the plan would be formalized in conjunction with the Internal Security Ministry, headed by minister Gideon Ezra.
- Diana Bahur-Nir, Doron Sheffer and Tal Rosner contributed to this report.
