by Itsik Saban, Mati Tuchfeld, Gideon Allon and Israel Hayom Staff
Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan, speaking at scene of Friday's shooting, says lone-wolf terrorism requires security forces, civilians to change mode of operation • MKs demand steps to confiscate the "enormous number" of illegal guns in Arab sector.
Public Security Minister
Gilad Erdan and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the scene of
Friday's shooting in Tel Aviv, Saturday
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Photo credit: Flash90  |
The availability of guns in Israel is once
again the subject of debate. On Sunday, the Ministerial Committee for
Legislation was slated to approve an amendment, authored by Public
Security Minister Gilad Erdan, to the current law, that would allow
security guards to carry their work weapons after work hours.
On Saturday evening, the day after two people
were shot to death in an attack on Dizengoff Street in Tel Aviv, Erdan
and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the scene of the attack.
Both spoke publicly.
After thanking the police for their efforts,
Erdan expressed his thanks to the public for its alertness and mentioned
that he was seeking to expand the policy on carrying guns.
"The Israel Police arrived and acted just like
they were supposed to. Israel's police protect the citizens 24 hours a
day. However, civilians also help a great deal. Therefore, I am
expanding the policy on carrying guns. Tomorrow [Sunday], another bill
on that matter will be presented that would allow security guards to
carry their work weapons when they are off the job."
Erdan added that in the coming weeks the
regulations for issuing gun ownership permits would be relaxed. "This
step is part of a series of steps we're taking, along with massive
backup [in the form of] opening new police stations in Arab communities,
something that hasn't happened for many years."
Earlier, Erdan expressed his condolences for
the families of Alon Bakal and Shimon Ruimi, who were killed Friday and
his wishes for a speedy recovery to the wounded.
Erdan addressed the current wave of terrorism,
saying that "over the past few months everyone is dealing with a new
kind of terror wave. A kind we didn't know in the past and that is
characterized, as you all understand, by not having a clearly
identifiable guiding group or hand. This requires the security forces
and all of us to make a lot of changes in the way we operate."
As Erdan works to make it easier for citizens
to carry guns legally, many Knesset members are demanding that the
authorities take more steps to confiscate illegal weapons in
circulation.
In response to Friday's attack, Yisrael
Beytenu Chairman Avigdor Lieberman attacked the government, saying that
its policy was "one big failure."
"It's not just the attack in Tel Aviv and the
rest of the events in recent weeks, but rather an ongoing failure, a
policy of buying quiet from Hamas and the rest of the organizations with
money and benefits," Lieberman said.
Likud officials responded to Lieberman's
statement, saying "this is an irresponsible babbler whose understanding
of the war on terrorism is summed up by automatic fire of empty
slogans."
Yesh Atid Chairman Yair Lapid said that "there
is an enormous number of illegal weapons floating around the Arab
sector, and it's time to start addressing that."
MK Moti Yogev (Habayit Hayehudi) touched on
the same issue, calling on "the Public Security Minister and the Israel
Police to implement an intelligence operation and an operation to
collect illegal guns in the Arab sector."
Opposition Leader MK Isaac Herzog (Zionist
Union), said that "lone-wolf terrorism breaks down the citizens' sense
of personal safety. ... Military strikes must be as harsh and painful as
possible, and should be accompanied by civilian security operations. At
the same time, we must create a serious, regional process that will
lead to a quick separation from our neighbors."
MK Ahmad Tibi (Joint Arab List) said that "[the
shooter's] family must not be blamed, nor the residents of [the
terrorist's hometown] Arara. It's a horrible act. The Arab public has
nothing to do with it."
Itsik Saban, Mati Tuchfeld, Gideon Allon and Israel Hayom Staff
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=30861
Copyright - Original materials copyright (c) by the authors.
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