'There is cause for concern' Israeli official says on police readiness

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli Media
4 Sep 2023 15:27

The online outlet for Yedioth Ahronot, Ynet, cites Israeli officials warning of the downward trend in the Israeli police's ability to contain various situations in "Israel."

Eritrean protesters clash with Israeli occupation police in "Tel Aviv," "Israel," Saturday, Sept. 2, 2023. (AP)

In a report on Ynet, the online outlet for the Yedioth Ahronoth Israeli newspaper, Liran Levy, the police and criminal correspondent for the Yedioth Ahronoth group, argued that ahead of the Eritrean asylum seekers' riot in "Tel Aviv", the Israeli Occupation Police have made "poor preparations" based on how events unfolded.

This, according to Levy, was a sign that the "police are losing their power" and that Eritrean rioters "smelled its weakness." The Israeli analyst stated that brawls with Eritreans are not a new event, but have rather been happening on a yearly basis. This year, the Israeli police's weakness was very apparent, and the Eritreans knew it.

An official in the occupation police also raised concerns of a widespread loss of control in any potential upcoming multi-square event, when he said, according to what the Israeli correspondent reported, that “the police arrived at the scene without proper forces,” stressing, "“We understand how much the police will not be able to provide a solution in a more serious situation, without intelligence, when everything erupts."

"Red flags went on, there's cause for concern," concluded the Israeli official according to Levy, who further noted that intelligence reports forecast that any potential event of multi-city riots will have significant consequences.

Another senior Israeli occupation police officer said, "When riots arise in the mixed cities, it will take us at least 72 hours to organize with the deployment of forces on the ground to stop the rioters."

"The police have been dealing with never-ending chaos in recent months," as the capabilities and "power of the police only weakens."

The police officer even underscored that the Israeli occupation has been "getting close to a situation where for an emergency of murder or rape, not only will we not be able to arrive within minutes, we may not be able to arrive at all."

Moreover, the report highlighted that "the Israel Police is short of more than 1,148 police officers" countrywide, while in "Tel Aviv" there has been "a shortage of about 500 police officers."

After protests, Netanyahu orders deportation of Eritrean migrants

Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a ministerial meeting on Sunday to discuss recent riots by Eritrean undocumented migrants in "Tel Aviv" and said that all of them will be subject to immediate deportation.

"Yesterday's events are a crossing of the red line. This unrest and bloodshed is something we cannot accept. We demand tough measures against the rioters, including their immediate deportation," Netanyahu said at the meeting, as quoted in a press release issued by his office.

The occupation's Prime Minister also instructed relevant Israeli agencies to develop a plan for gradually deporting all undocumented migrants from "Israel."

Israeli police have a long history of #racism and oppression, not only against #Palestinians but against illegal Israeli settlers too. pic.twitter.com/PqHQ3dDOEY
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) March 3, 2023

Netanyahu called illegal migration from Africa a real threat to what he called "Israel's" future.

Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich also said in a statement that "the High Court of Justice is responsible for these riots. That’s why we’re advancing amendments to the legal system that will allow elected officials to make decisions and execute them."

On his part, Israeli occupation "Justice" Minister Yariv Levin claimed that the latest riots proved the need for the Netanyahu coalition’s judicial overhaul legislation.

There are about 17,000 Eritrean migrants in "Israel," constituting the majority of some 30,000 migrants from Africa, Israeli media reported.