'Police cutbacks put public at risk'

Public Security Ministry fuming over Defense Ministry's approval of cutbacks in number of IDF soldiers enlisted to police force

Omri Ephraim|Published: 06.26.11 , 15:03

Sources close to Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch are reportedly fuming over Defense Minister Ehud Barak's proposal to cut back the number of IDF soldiers enlisted into the police force as part of their mandatory military service from 2,100 to 1,600. The proposal was approved at Sunday's cabinet meeting.

One source told Ynet: "The prime minister's decision… comes at the expense of the public's personal security." They claim that implementing the decision would be critically detrimental to the patrols, traffic police, operations center and the police emergency service center (100) where soldiers play an integral role.

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Sources close to the minister also had harsh words for the ministers who supported the proposal saying that they acted with duplicity. Talking of "the whole nation at the frontline" while raising their hands to approve cuts which would harm the personal security of each of Israel's citizens.

Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch told Ynet: "In these of all days when the government requires a great deal of activity in the field in addition to preparations for events in September, any cut endangers public safety."

Meanwhile, Defense Minister Ehud Barak said: "This is a temporary order which is expected to expire at the end of June thus the cabinet must make a decision over the number of soldiers which will be allotted to the police.

"The original decision was to halt the allocation but after further consideration and in light of the general cut backs throughout bodies to which the IDF allocates soldiers, I present the following proposal: Decreasing the order of battle by 100 soldiers from June 2012."