Following a request from the United States and the United Nations,the Israel Police will send dozens of armed officers to joinpeacekeeping efforts in Haiti, the Public Security Ministry announcedon Wednesday.
Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman asked Public SecurityMinister Yitzhak Aharonovitch to authorize the police delegation, andthe request will be approved, a source close to the public securityminister said.
The officers will undergo a brief period of physical and mental preparation before being flown to Haiti, the source added.
Lieberman said the international peacekeeping force was "one ofthe most urgent and important requirements for coping with the disasterin Haiti, in view of the breakdown of government rule. The UnitedStates has requested that Israel consider sending a contingent ofpolice officers to join the international force, which will be deployedin Haiti in the near future. The Israeli contingent will be comprisedof 100 police officers.
"Israeli aid to Haiti not only expresses moral values of thehighest order, but is also a Jewish and Israeli tradition that providesthe opportunity to demonstrate Israel's commitment to internationalefforts to assist disaster victims," he said.
Last week, a delegation of Israel Police crime sceneinvestigation specialists flew to Haiti with the IDF's Home FrontCommand and medical team to assist in the identification of earthquakecasualties.