Police captains working in southern Samaria met with community leaders and rabbis this week in an attempt to understand and better deal with local youth. Police called the meeting following recent cases in which several young women arrested for nationalistic activities refused to identify themselves to legal authorities, saying they did not recognize the authority of the secular justice system.
Police expressed concern that youth involved in Land of Israel activism had become increasingly detached from the state in the three years since the “Disengagement” from Gaza. They asked the rabbis and other leaders how best to avoid future clashes.
Community leaders told the police that the expulsion of Jews from Gaza had been an extremely difficult experience for many young adults, and that clashes with police had led to increasing feelings of anger. Police can soften the anger somewhat by treating civilians with respect and avoiding cruelty while enforcing the state’s orders, they said.