During a session of the Knesset Interior Committee on Monday, 2 Kislev, Israel Police Brigadier-General Amitai Levy explained the department evaluates the security situation and makes daily decisions regarding what is required in the nation’s schools and other venues.

Committee members are calling on police to reinstate school patrols in which cars are assigned to patrol schools in a particular district. Regev wants to see demobilized soldiers placed at schools to provide protection, calling on Finance Minister Yair Lapid to withdraw his objections to such a plan. Regev asked Levy is Police Chief Yochanan Danino is on top of things and if the concerns surrounding the protection of the nation’s schools amid the escalating wave of attacks and Islamic terror are being addressed. She asked if Danino has consulted with senior commanders and if he is being briefed on concerns and the daily situation in schools around the country.

Levy insists the matter of protecting the schools is part of the daily briefing sessions for the chief and the decisions made vary from city to city and municipality to municipality. He cited Modi’in and Oranit as two examples in which security arrangements over the last year have changed to include school patrols, and facilitating operations for security companies.

Regev stated Minister of Public Security Yitzchak Aharonovich and Chief Danino have not made major changes and the reality is a city or municipality with the funds will finance security for its schools while cities without money will have to permit their children to remain at risk.

She is calling for security companies and 5,000 soldiers, with the latter to be given preferential terms to encourage demobilized soldiers to respond to the needs of the system. “It is not an embarrassment to ask the IDF for assistance for such an overwhelming mission” added Regev. She stresses parents have a right to be concerned for when children are heading to school they are increasingly vulnerable and therefore both the Israel Police are IDF are needed for this major operation.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)