Travelers and Jerusalemites riding buses from the capital may have noticed
something lacking in the past few days at the central bus station: no more long
lines at the entrance to the building.
For the first time since the bus
station opened more than a decade ago, security guards will no longer check
every passenger with a metal detector.
Jerusalem police spokesman Shmuel
Ben-Ruby said the bus station security would focus more on profiling passengers
and being selective with security checks.
“The kind of guarding changed
because the situation has changed,” he said. “We’re more selective – we’re not
going to check a 70-year-old religious man,” said Ruby.
All Arab
passengers entering the central bus station during a brief afternoon period
observed by The Jerusalem Post were directed to additional security checks in
the metal detector and cursory bag check. The process was similar to the
security check all passengers used to undergo when entering the
building.
Ben-Ruby said the emphasis on better technology and supervision
will also make it easier and faster for people using public
transportation.
But many people inside the central bus station
disagreed.
“I don’t feel safe, but you also don’t get stuck with the
traffic jams at the door,” said Esther Avraham, from Aviezer near Beit Shemesh.
“I would rather they bring back [the security checks].”
“It’s not OK.
There needs to be checks, because terrorists can easily come in here,” said
18-year-old Shir Deri, who works at a kiosk in the bus station.
“They are
putting our lives in danger. In a regular mall, there are people standing at the
entrance. Anyone can dress like a religious person and blow this whole place
up,” said Deri.
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