STATEMENT OF THE MINISTER
AVI DICTER
Minister of Public Security

The Israel Ministry of Public Security, with its two executive arms – the Israel Police and Israel Prison Service – carries the main burden of responsibility for the personal security of Israeli citizens, and for the public order and law enforcement.

The recent wave of violence and crime has caused a harsh blow to the sense of security of Israelis and has harmed the functioning of our society, economy and overall quality of life.

Violence and crime are a strategic threat for Israel, no less than the threat of terrorism. Therefore, the main focus of the Ministry of Public Security is and will remain generating a significant improvement regarding the sense of security of Israeli residents.

This policy focuses on the citizens' needs, and compels the Police and Prison Services to maintain maximum availability all year round and all hours of the day.

During 2007 the Israel Police force will also maintain its efforts fighting violent and organized crime, public corruption and in the war on road accidents, as well as continuing to play a vital role in the war on terror.

The Israel Prison Services (IPS), which is the professional imprisonment organization, will become in 2007 the only civilian prison authority in Israel. All Police prison and prisoner escorting services will be transferred to the IPS during the coming year.

Finally, during the recent war in Lebanon we were exposed to many defects and shortcomings which demand our urgent and swift handling in order to achieve operational readiness for any potential conflict which might arise. 

I believe that our collective, strenuous and focused efforts will succeed in producing a substantial upgrade in the personal security and sense of security of all Israelis.