3,000 officers to patrol Jerusalem over holiday period

All public areas of the capital will be heavily patrolled by border, undercover, helicopter and traffic police units at all times.

By DANIEL K. EISENBUD
IDF soldiers help provide security for the protest. (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
IDF soldiers help provide security for the protest.
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM)
Nearly 3,000 police officers will blanket the capital over the course of Remembrance and Independence Days to ensure the tens of thousands of visitors expected to converge on the city’s cemeteries and parks remain safe, police said Thursday.
According to National Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld, all public areas of the capital – including malls, restaurants, train stations, cemeteries and parks – will be heavily patrolled by border, undercover, helicopter and traffic police units at all times.
“There’s a special emphasis nationally during these two days on Jerusalem and Mount Herzl, and different units will be on hand there to ensure people can travel freely without encountering any problems,” said Rosenfeld.
Rosenfeld said police will be at all cemeteries to oversee visitors on Remembrance Day, while on Independence Day units will primarily focus on the capital’s public parks, where tens of thousands are expected to hold barbecues.
“Police have prepared for these two important days and will leave nothing to chance,” he said. “We want all visitors to feel safe and free to move about.”
In addition to heightened security measures, police are asking the public to remain aware of their surroundings at all times and to report any unusual activities.