Police prep for Palestinian statehood declaration

Moshe Karadi says current police numbers inadequate “to deal with the problems posed by declaration of Palestinian state.”

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
moshe karadi 88.298 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
moshe karadi 88.298
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
Former Israel Police Insp.-Gen. (ret.) Moshe Karadi warned on Wednesday that the Israel Police required more recruits to effectively deal with anticipated Palestinian unrest in September.
Speaking at Ashkelon Academic College, Karadi said current police numbers were inadequate “to deal with the problems posed by a declaration of a Palestinian state,” adding that the recent Nakba Day events were a taste of the disturbances he was referring to.
Karadi served as Israel’s 15th police commissioner between 2004 and 2007, and oversaw the disengagement from the Gaza Strip.
“Police can’t come unprepared to [the planned events of] September, and we must assume that elements outside of Israel will take part in the events,” he said.
Police have begun preparations for September.
Working with intelligence officials, Insp.-Gen. Yochanan Danino has been drawing up plans with the Border Police, the Operations Branch, the Jerusalem District, and the Northern District.
On April 28, during a speech to mark his departure, former police chief Insp.-Gen. (ret.) David Cohen said forces were “preparing for the possibility of wide-scale disturbances” in September. “We’re looking at the most severe scenario,” Cohen said.