Senior official for "Israel Today": "In an atmosphere of freedom it will be difficult to enforce hermetically, the discourse accusing one sector or another may degenerate society into violence" • Tel Aviv police turned to producers and club owners: "Follow the guidelines" : "Leadership needs to take responsibility"
Police warn: "The public should be afraid of the spread of the virus"
Photo:
Coco and Gili Eliyahu / Ginny
Police are preparing for increased enforcement of nocturnal closure during Purim in order to prevent pirated parties and prohibited gatherings.
A police officer told Israel Today that since this is the first holiday after the removal of the third closure when the public is in an atmosphere of "great freedom" in light of the vaccines against the virus - "it will be difficult to enforce any closure hermetically."
At the same time, a senior officer warns: "The discourse accusing one sector or another of violating a closure or curfew may degenerate society into violence like the one seen in Bnei Brak elsewhere as well."
Netanyahu on the night curfew on Purim: "We do not want to repeat what happened last year" // Photo: PM spokeswoman
Senior police officials reiterate that "the public should be afraid of the spread of the virus, not of the police."
Most of the police activity will again be more involved in gatherings, in closed places.
"We are aware of the difficulty in enforcement, so we will act with maximum discretion for the benefit of the public. We and the public have already learned to enforce, the police alone will not stop and reduce morbidity. Therefore we expect mutual guarantee from the public," said police enforcement officials.
As you may recall, last year Purim parties became contagion parties.
Senior police officers note that police officers have not been given authority to enter private places unless it is a complaint of suspected noise offense.
Therefore, most of the activity will focus this time on the intelligence level, in an attempt to locate pirate parties both in private places and in nature, along with checkpoints and covert activity in recreation areas.
A police source told "Israel Today" that enforcement authorities also have local authorities and the Ministry of Health with regard to businesses and commerce, if a night-time closure is decided.
The police are aware of the fact that for various and strange reasons there are cities and localities whose heads rarely cooperate in enforcement.
As has happened in the past, the police will focus on activities in cities and red localities.
Recently, the Police Operations Division has set up dozens of "Corona police stations" that are jointly responsible with police and municipal inspectors for enforcement activities within cities and towns.
At the same time, the police also fear that the amount of drinking will increase during the holidays and the amount of drunkenness that will roam the streets and roads will increase.
In light of this, roadblocks will be set up where drivers will be tested for alcohol.
Special preparations are also being made in the ultra-Orthodox sector, with the understanding that Purim is considered a major holiday in Judaism.
In light of this, the police districts have in recent days been holding talks with public leaders in the sector in order to prevent friction and even violence in real time.
The police do not share the media discourse about the ultra-Orthodox public violating the guidelines.
However, it is also made clear this time that police officers will not proactively knock on synagogue doors except in cases where a complaint will be received.
Today and tomorrow, status assessments and plan approvals will continue for all districts with the message being to enforce the closure "with determination and sensitivity."
At the same time, Corona Commissioner Prof. Nachman Ash warned that if the ultra-Orthodox public does not follow the guidelines, we may find ourselves in a fourth closure.
Speaking to ultra-Orthodox reporters, he said: "This happy holiday comes this year with a great fear that it will cause another outbreak of disease. We remember what happened in the previous Purim holiday, and we are aware of the fragile situation today, and it is our duty to stop the increase in disease."
"Purim restraint will help celebrate Passover"
He said, "We hear about tishim in the courtyards, and I call on the ultra-Orthodox leadership to do everything possible to stop the organization of Purim events in violation of the guidelines. If the guidelines are not observed, we may find ourselves again facing the closure of educational institutions. "You can rejoice according to the instructions and responsibly. It is important to remember that our every effort to maintain restraint on Purim will help us to happily celebrate Passover."
Regarding Purim meals, Prof. Ash said that "our guidelines are to carry out meals within a nuclear family, or the addition of a first-class family if they are vaccinated, but no police officer will enter a private home to check this. There is personal responsibility and it is important that people understand what is allowed and forbidden. ".
Meanwhile, the Tel Aviv police spoke to producers and club owners and asked them to keep the guidelines.
The police are aware of the fact that the various WhatsApp groups have invitations to underground parties and are trying to get in and out of those groups in order to prevent these parties in advance.
Due to the relatively pleasant weather, it is estimated that many will go out to nature parties.
In any case, the police know that even if there is a night curfew, many will prefer to arrive in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon and after 05:00 when the curfew ends, they will return home, thus bypassing the curfew.
The police also focus their activities in the area of illicit sales and the use of dangerous toys with an emphasis on firecrackers, explosives and fireworks that pose a danger and may cause serious injury.
Against this background, the police are already preparing to enforce the guidelines of the Ministry of Health during Ramadan, which will begin on April 12, and a dialogue is already underway with public leaders in the Arab sector.
