This coming Sunday, a government decision from 2006 will go into effect according to which responsibility for the security of the settlements surrounding Jerusalem will be transferred from the IDF to the Israel Police.
The settlements that stand at the center of the decision are Ma'ale Adumim, Kfar Adumim, Alon, Nofei Prat, Mount Adar, Mount Gila, Kedar, Anatot (Almon), Gid’on Hahadasha, Givat Ze'ev and Beit Horon.
After a long struggle, the hopes of the residents are directed to the new government ministers who are expected to take their posts tomorrow. They can freeze the plan in order to re-examine it.
The settlement committee is prepared for every scenario. A message sent this morning (Wednesday) to the residents, stated that despite attempts to hold a dialogue with the police and security forces about the transfer of security responsibility "gaps exist and unfortunately, in our opinion, not enough has been done so that the security of the settlements and the residents will be maintained.”
"Today the media reported that the first stop of the terrorist who carried out the murderous attack at the bus station in Jerusalem and then placed an explosive device in Ramot was near our gas station at the intersection, where he hid some of the items he used for the attack."
"A terrorist was walking around freely next to our Education Center, near Adomit (a deli) and Priscilla (restaurant), in the morning hours of that terrible day. At a time when terrorism is viciously raising its head in our sector, the secretariats of the region are waging a stubborn fight against the government's intention to transfer security responsibility for us and the other settlements in the envelope from the army to the police.''
The Jerusalem Envelope Committee emphasizes that even if the transfer of responsibility to the police is fundamentally correct, "from our point of view, it is being carried out hastily and carelessly, without the required groundwork concerning budgets and standards - and above all, without understanding the task and its implications.
"One example is the firing of our Rabbis and the recruitment of police officers who live in Ma'ale Adumim to replace them but will work an 8.5-hour shift because that's how it works - the rest of the time they will be at least 10 minutes away from here (during hours when there are no traffic jams). There are many other examples.
"This coming Sunday, the passing of the baton comes into effect. The next few days are the best time for us to act. We are organizing a broad protest and taking security into our own hands. If we leave it in the hands of the police in light of the negligent transfer - our lives are in danger, literally.
"We ask everyone who can help the struggle to send messages to senior officials, operate on social media, block roads, demonstrate, etc. We need broad support and we are sure that you will know how to respond to the issue. Also, in the coming period there may be frequent changes In the security arrangements in the region; please pay attention and remain vigilant during this sensitive period. We hope that we will succeed in changing the evil of the decree.''