Former Public Security Minister Shlomo Ben-Ami testified this morning at the Ohr Commission hearings. The committee is investigating the riots of 13 months ago in which 13 Israeli-Arabs were killed. One of the first things Ben-Ami was asked by the judges related to the fact that he doubled as Foreign Minister in the Barak Government. He said that it did not harm his ability to serve efficiently as Police Minister, and in fact, \"on the contrary, being Foreign Minister helped me perform better my duties as Public Security Minister.\" The mother of one of the 13 was removed from the courtroom when she began screaming, while outside the courtroom Arabs demonstrated and accused the police of murder.
One of Ben-Ami\'s main points was that he did not receive advance warning from the top police brass about what was liable to happen as a result of Ariel Sharon\'s visit to the Temple Mount. He said that he was told the police were ready for any outburst from the Arab sector. He further noted his efforts to benefit the Arab sector, including the fact that he was the first minister to agree to release terrorist prisoners on vacation from prison. Ben-Ami agreed that the Arab leadership has become more extreme over the past several years, \"and for this reason, disturbances there must be treated wisely and delicately.\"
It will be recalled that the Arabs began rioting throughout the Galilee immediately after the outbreak of violence in Judea and Samaria; mobs of hundreds of Arabs in many locations pulled motorists out of their cars and beat them, barraged police with rocks and slingshots, and closed off critical highways - including the Wadi Ara highway, the main artery between central Israel and the Tiberias-Jezre\'el Valley area.
One of Ben-Ami\'s main points was that he did not receive advance warning from the top police brass about what was liable to happen as a result of Ariel Sharon\'s visit to the Temple Mount. He said that he was told the police were ready for any outburst from the Arab sector. He further noted his efforts to benefit the Arab sector, including the fact that he was the first minister to agree to release terrorist prisoners on vacation from prison. Ben-Ami agreed that the Arab leadership has become more extreme over the past several years, \"and for this reason, disturbances there must be treated wisely and delicately.\"
It will be recalled that the Arabs began rioting throughout the Galilee immediately after the outbreak of violence in Judea and Samaria; mobs of hundreds of Arabs in many locations pulled motorists out of their cars and beat them, barraged police with rocks and slingshots, and closed off critical highways - including the Wadi Ara highway, the main artery between central Israel and the Tiberias-Jezre\'el Valley area.