The Ministry of Domestic Security

Total Budget: 5.3 billion NIS

Development Budget: 179 million NIS

Number of Employees: 150

Number of Arab employees: 1 → 0.6%

Issues:

1. Community Policing Centers

♦ In 1999, six new community policing centers were established in Arab communities.

There are now eighteen centers in Arab communities.

♦ This year the number of Arab volunteers in the Civil Guard increased sevenfold, yet

these volunteers are not equipped with uniforms and equipment as are the Jewish

units. From a survey conducted by the police, it appears that many more residents are

willing to volunteer and help in the community but not within the framework of the

Civil Guard.

♦ There is a concern in the Ministry of Domestic Security and the police that the plan

will not be implemented if budget cuts continue.

Survey of Confidence in the Police in Arab Communities

Not confident 28%

Somewhat confident 24%

Confident 48%

Survey of Satisfaction of Treatment at the Police Station

Satisfied Citizens 43%

Dissatisfied Citizens 57%

The organizational behavior and the deployment of the police in the Arab communities has resulted over many years in deep-seated suspicion of government institutions in general, and the police in particular. The police are presently perceived as the government’s representative in legal matters and law enforcement only, and not as a service for the community. The data shows that despite their suspicion, citizens are willing to volunteer and assist the police and their community. The police must gain the confidence of the citizens. The establishment of community policing centers and a wider deployment of police stations may be a step in the right direction.

Arab citizens do not have convenient physical access to police stations. Easy access will greatly assist in creating a feeling of belonging and this important factor must be taken into account when establishing new stations.

The establishment of community policing centers should not be contingent upon special budget allocations. This is a basic and vital necessity for all citizens of the State of Israel. The recognition of the importance of this service has been several decades late in coming. This fact only intensifies the importance of the plan and the urgency for establishing policing stations, – even if it involves determining a new set of priorities within the existing budget.

2. Police Violence Towards Demonstrators

In the past two years, the police acted against Arab demonstrators, citizens of Israel, in a succession of events:

§ April 1998 – At Umm A-Sahali near Shfar’am, demonstrations following the demolition of buildings which were declared illegal.

§ September 1998 – Demonstrations at Umm Al-Fahm following the seizure of private agricultural lands by the I.D.F.

§ June 1999 – Lod – Demonstrations following the demolition of a building constructed without a permit.

§ November 1999 – A demonstration of mayors from Arab communities and their employees and Arab members of the Knesset in front of the Prime Minister’s Office.

§ March 2000 – A demonstration of residents in Usifiya following the unauthorized and unmonitored installation of cellular antennas.

§ 30 March 2000 – Land Day in Sachnin.

§ April 2000 – Demonstrations of Arab students at the University of Haifa and at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

Two aspects of the nature of the police behavior were:

a. Length of time of police restraint, initiating negotiations with strikers and

demonstrators, and the reaction time.

b. Measures taken by the police against the demonstrators.

At the demonstrations noted above, dispersal was effected by means of tear gas, clubs, horses, rubber bullets, water cannons and even live ammunition. In one case (in Umm Al-Fahm), the Border Guard Forces entered a school and injured students with rounds of rubber bullets and tear gas. Police intervention in these instances appeared similar to that of the I.D.F. and Border Guard Forces during the Intifada in the occupied territories.

In both aspects of the nature of police action noted above, the police behavior was different than that practiced towards Jewish demonstrators. For example, when Jewish settlers are dispersed, each demonstrator is carried away by four police officers.

One of the basic guidelines for police behavior during demonstrations is keeping the traffic routes open. Nonetheless, during demonstrations involving the Jewish population, such as during the students’ strike in the autumn of 1998, demonstrations in communities in the northern part of the country from time to time, and workers demonstrating by lock-ins at factories, traffic access was cut off. During these demonstrations, the police usually exercise restraint, engage in lengthy negotiations and show a greater degree of tolerance than with Arab demonstrators.

3. “Private Security”

♦ Within the framework of the Monitoring Committee of the Arab Mayors’ Association

there is a security and emergency department. Its role is to attend to those matters not

covered by the Ministry of Domestic Security, both locally and countrywide. Among

its many functions, caring for the following matters is included: safety and protection

of the public, school security (Security Officer, watch guard system, bomb shelters,

safety, drills for emergency situations); securing public institutions, public bomb

shelters, security vehicles (fire engines and emergency vehicles), fences, emergency

lighting, securing of facilities, Civil Guard, entrance gates to villages, emergency

water supply, and alarm systems (sirens).

Despite repeated requests to the Ministry of Domestic Security and the police that these matters be taken care of, the Monitoring Committee has not received any reply. Accordingly, the responsibility for these matters has remained in the hands of the local Arab municipalities, detached from state authorities.

♦ In the Jewish schools there is a full-time guard or security person while in Arab

schools there is not. The sixty-five local municipalities in the Arab community, on

their own initiative and at their own expense, have placed security officers in the

schools under their jurisdiction. The defense drill, conducted in March 2000 in

educational institutions included Arab educational institutions. The conclusions of the

drill indicated that the functioning of the Arab municipalities was impeccable.

In the State of Israel, security and safety are interconnected. This fact has resulted in compounded negligence in this regard. As a rule, the State of Israel has an abundance of security and safety measures, and the concern in these areas instills in the community a feeling of belonging. School security is intended, among other things, to prevent entry of car bombs or armed terrorists. In reality, the influence of security and safety measures goes beyond from its primary function. The figure of the school guard is part of the world of the future citizen being educated there, and his daily functions, such as preventing negative elements from entering the school, is part of the general order and goes beyond the narrow security function. In Arab schools this position is not paid for or filled by the State. The responsibility for this vital matter is left by the State in the hands of the local citizens.