The Minister of Internal Security, Amir Ohana, intends to bring the decision to the approval of the government tomorrow • A "desk" is expected to be set up inside the division to clear clan conflicts in the sector throughout the country
The Minister of Internal Security, Amir Ohana, announced today (Saturday) that he will tomorrow bring to the government's approval the decision to establish a new division in the police, the "Sword Division" ("sword" in Western translation, US), which will specifically deal with crime in the Arab sector.
Police revealed concealment of weapons in Arab society, about two weeks ago // Photo: Police spokeswoman
The establishment of the division is currently underway, and it is supposed to upgrade the administration that was established at the time to improve the service in the sector.
In this context, a "conflict desk" will be set up to dispel conflicts between clans in the Arab sector throughout the country.
According to senior officials in the Ministry of Internal Security, this with the aim of "reaching the next murder before it happened."
The new wing is also expected to include a kind of "board" where public and religious leaders from the sector will be partners, and whose purpose will be to help the police map the crime situation and calm the spirits in society, which suffers from severe violence.
Israel Today has learned that at the same time, the police are carrying out staff work at the Border Police to establish tactical brigades that will constitute a kind of "iron fist" that can be moved from place to place in the war on crime.
It should be noted that following clashes between civilians and police forces in the events of October 2000, the government decided in November of that year to establish a "Light Committee" - the State Commission of Inquiry into the clashes between security forces and Arab citizens.
Among other things, the committee recommended improving the police's relationship with Arab society in order to strengthen law enforcement in it.
In the years 2016-2010, the government made several decisions on this issue, including the allocation of hundreds of millions of shekels for the implementation of civilian and police projects in Arab society.
In April 2016, the "Arab Sector Administration" was established by the police, under the auspices of the Planning and Organization Division, headed by - for the first time - an Arab-Muslim chief, Jamal Khachrush.
A report by former State Comptroller Yosef Shapira, which examined the police's handling of the illegal weapons held in the Arab sector and the shootings taking place in it, determined that according to police data, the rate of violence against bodies in the Arab population is twice as high as in the population. It is two and a half times higher.
The purpose of establishing the principal was to strengthen the police's relationship with Arab society.
According to the plan, the directorate was to assist in the construction of 11 new stations in the communities of Arab society and in the strengthening of ten existing stations, and to add to the police standard about 600 jobs intended for Muslim policemen.
However, the auditor stated in his opinion that "the plan did not include milestones for monitoring its implementation and examining its effectiveness."
In addition, the role of the principal in locating land and buildings for the construction of the new stations encountered difficulties, both due to the paucity of such land and buildings and due to opposition from local councils to approve the establishment of police stations within their jurisdiction.
Despite the difficulties, so far only nine police stations have been established in the Arab sector.
With the inauguration of Ohana, he positioned the fight against crime in Arab society and the phenomenon of extortion of immunity fees as his main goals.
A few weeks ago, Ohana announced the establishment of another police station in Tuba Zangaria.
"The public will have the law and order it deserves, and there will be more such Arab localities. I intend to bring the plan for approval and budgeting by the government soon," he said.