They need to DO, period. Because right now they are completely worthless.

All my previous encounters with the Israeli police were good when you get on their good side, but once you irritate them, most of the uneducated can turn very nasty. Is that good?

While the police probably are very, very good at their anti-terrorism activities that cannot be said for daily criminal procedures. My only direct contact with the police was during a serious altercation with a neighbor. Their behaviour towards me - as the offended and complaining party - was seriously lacking. I was treated like my problem was unimportant, like they couldn't care less. In the end I had to pay to take the neighbour to court. The judge settled the problem requiring the neighbour to pay and to leave me alone in the future. I can only hope that I never need to deal with the police ever again.

1) There are not enough of them 2) They dont patrol the streets - and they need to 3) They treat the public with indifference and rudeness 4) Not enough of them in the tourist areas speak a second language 5)They are apparently not trained in courtesy or helping the public (police are meant to be public servants - a concept that they have difficulty coming to terms with)

''uneducated can turn very nasty" To serve in the police force one needs a certain level of education. I guess you mean, bad mannered?

Hi Birdie, I was referring to a specific kind of education. The education of representing the Israeli police department with pride and dignity. I only know that officers go to police academy - not the enlisted walker. So I don't know what culture they represent and what prejudices they carry and what specific education they received in order to be a policeman. I heard that still many ex convicts are accepted into the police force. The impression they place especially on tourists is paramount.

i was hit by a car ..police did not arrive at scene or call..when i went to file a report they treated me like trash..after 3 months they still have no idea who hit me although they have the plate number..incompetent..rude..lazy

sounds more like the Keystone Cops than actual real live cops. Or, the Tom Waits song." The Piano Has Been drinking."

... it won't impact the behavior and performance of the Israeli police. It's a cultural thing and that's much harder to change. The talkbacks here paint a very true picture of the Israeli police force and their perception among the public. It's absolutely terrible. I, personally, have called them for various incidents and they just didn't show up. Umm, ok. What if someone is being murdered? So what! I've heard many immigrants say they feel safer in Israel and there is some truth to that, but from the perspective of day-to-day crime, I don't feel safe at all and have zero trust in the police. I also think the lack of faith in and presence of the police contributes to the disrespectful culture (especially the reckless driving culture) here because you can see people behave in public as if nobody will interfere, because the police sure won't. Another example is the rampant and constant norm of house break-ins. The police have not been able to stop them. I don't remember a single incident of hearing about a burglary at a friend's when living many years in the USA. Here, I heard about them on average once every couple months. Is this normal? I question if it's safer in Israel than in the USA. Are these the "Jewish police" that Herzl dreamed of? How can we fix this?

Three incidents in which I was the injured party or reporting a crime as it was happening were treated with such negligence, apathy, rudeness and idiocy that make the keystone cops look like a BMW. The only exception was when my purse was stolen in the Ra'anana mall and the police came to my place of work (!) and said that they knew it would be hard for me to get to the police station without money, keys, driver license, etc. I'll never for get that.

Such a fantastic idea we need much more police and traffic police presence on the roads A) the State would be millionaires from all tickets issued for traffic violations reckless driving road rage etc it will benefit all and be much safer.

From what I have seen of the local police force, I have so little confidence in them that I wouldn't dream of going to report any crime as I know beforehand how I would be treated and what little chance I'd have in receiving any kind of assistance. Shame on the Israeli police force. They might as well not exist.

Personally, I prefer police to do actual work and prevent/stop actual crime, instead of wasting my time and theirs pacifying my anxieties about the bike that I probably should have locked up outside the local bar. Same result, less wasted breath. Even though I do like the US approach to policing - just beat the crap out of everybody until they're too scared to do anything except whatever they're ordered to do by their masters. That prevents ALL crime, because lawmen CAN'T be criminals!