In an interview with Hashomer Hahadash CEO Yoel Zilberman, the Minister of Internal Security stated: "I wanted to develop the ability of every citizen to defend himself, to protect his life and also his property."
"I will return the responsibility for the entire rural area to the border, the area was taken out of it in 2016-17 and that was a mistake," said Minister of Internal Security Amir Ohana during the "Israel Today" conference on the fight against crime held with the Hashomer Hadash organization.
Crime Fighting Conference: Interview with Minister Amir Ohana
The interview with the minister was conducted by Hashomer Hahadash CEO Yoel Zilberman, who emphasized the issue of physical security in Israel, and told the minister that "unfortunately today almost every citizen feels his issue of physical security as important and in need of correction in Israel.
There is a great outcry that the issue will be the main thing in the country. "
"We have made a decision to return the treatment of rural crime to the border"
Minister Ohana spoke in response to being the former head of the country's weapons lobby, saying that "as a Member of Knesset, I established the Firearms Carrying Lobby in Israel. "It is indecent to protect his property. It is the duty of the state to protect every resident. The state can not really protect every citizen on every street corner but it must back up the citizen if he acted to protect him or his property."
Joel Zilberman said that in the period 2019-2020 there was a 46% increase in agricultural crime, and a police chief once told him that "any theft of watermelons can not be dealt with, but today Israelis feel it is legitimate to steal agricultural products."
The Minister noted that this is an issue that the entire system of prosecutors and courts should deal with, noting that "unfortunately both the police and the courts do not take crime seriously - in the face of rape, what do you come to me with two calves or 400 kg of avocado ?!
"But I do not look at it that way, but at the huge investment of the farmer and the heartache. My heart aches for these people who came down to warm up and was cut off. Therefore we made a decision to return the treatment of rural crime to the border, not for nothing I appointed the commissioner after examining The police for half a year, and I was impressed by Chief of Staff Yaakov Shabtai that he is able to change a lot in the sense of personal security.
"I appealed to the Minister of Agriculture and all the heads of the councils to Yo'am," that we seek to demand stricter punishment. "
The minister added that "I see the issue of personal security as a partnership between the citizen and the authorities, and the citizen can act and the authorities should back him up. I am also talking about Arie Schiff who the authorities should back him up. If he confronted them unarmed - we would visit him in the cemetery Today".
The minister said that in the Arab sector only 2.5% of the public are involved in crime, but they are responsible for 60% of the most serious crimes in the country - and he is working to change that.
"We are strengthening our investment in the fight against Arab crime and we have established the Saif Division, to thwart crime in Arab society," the minister concluded.
