Israel Police District Commander Shahar Ayalon testified to members of the Knesset Interior Committee this morning (Tuesday) that changes would be made regarding the deployment of officers assigned to remove residents of Yesha (Judea, Samaria & Gaza) from outposts and settlements. Among the changes are that plainclothes personnel would not take part in such operations and the reaffirmation that all uniformed personnel will be compelled to display name tags at all times.
Ayalon added that some officers had an official reprimand placed in their file for not wearing name tags in previous Yesha evacuation operations as is required in accordance with police operating guidelines.
In a video aired on Israel’s Channel 10 Ayalon was seen briefing his men prior to the violent destruction of the Gilad Farm a year and a half ago. In the video he was heard ordering his officers to break the law by taking off their nametags and using only his name to identify themselves. He also tells them not to worry about charges being filed against them, as he would “dissolve the files.”
Chairman of the Committee of the Interior, MK Yuri Stern (National Union), in an interview following the airing of the video declared, “the Knesset Committee of the Interior views the illegal orders given by District Commander Shachar Ayalon with severity and will instruct Israel’s Police to investigate this grave incident – such things are not done.”
Yuri Shtern (National Union) issued new accusations against Ayalon today, charging that soldiers were being used illegally to remove Jewish families in Yesha. At a Committee session, Shtern said that former Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein ruled in 1998 that only the Police are authorized to carry out the actual evacuation, while the Army was only allowed to provide security around the site. Shtern cited the evacuation of Tapuach-West two months ago, where he said soldiers arrived first and handled the actual removal and expulsions of Jewish residents.
The military legal advisor for the Judea and Samaria region, Col. Ya'ir Goldstein, said that in the case of Tapuach-West speed was essential to minimize friction with the residents and so Army action was called for, but that all such operations were fully coordinated with the Police.
Ayalon added that some officers had an official reprimand placed in their file for not wearing name tags in previous Yesha evacuation operations as is required in accordance with police operating guidelines.
In a video aired on Israel’s Channel 10 Ayalon was seen briefing his men prior to the violent destruction of the Gilad Farm a year and a half ago. In the video he was heard ordering his officers to break the law by taking off their nametags and using only his name to identify themselves. He also tells them not to worry about charges being filed against them, as he would “dissolve the files.”
Chairman of the Committee of the Interior, MK Yuri Stern (National Union), in an interview following the airing of the video declared, “the Knesset Committee of the Interior views the illegal orders given by District Commander Shachar Ayalon with severity and will instruct Israel’s Police to investigate this grave incident – such things are not done.”
Yuri Shtern (National Union) issued new accusations against Ayalon today, charging that soldiers were being used illegally to remove Jewish families in Yesha. At a Committee session, Shtern said that former Attorney-General Elyakim Rubinstein ruled in 1998 that only the Police are authorized to carry out the actual evacuation, while the Army was only allowed to provide security around the site. Shtern cited the evacuation of Tapuach-West two months ago, where he said soldiers arrived first and handled the actual removal and expulsions of Jewish residents.
The military legal advisor for the Judea and Samaria region, Col. Ya'ir Goldstein, said that in the case of Tapuach-West speed was essential to minimize friction with the residents and so Army action was called for, but that all such operations were fully coordinated with the Police.