Israel Police chareidi sector spokesman Shabtai Gerverchik spoke with Kol Chai Radio on Thursday morning 9 Cheshvan, following the stabbing attack in Ramat Beit Shemesh Gimmel.

Police allegedly took almost an hour to respond to the area from the first call made reporting suspicious Arab males near the bus stop. Gerverchik explained he was going to probe this and respond when he has reviewed the emergency 100 dispatcher log.

The discussion then shifted to why there are not more policemen in Beit Shemesh, particularly protecting the schools. Gerverchik stated that on Wednesday he attended a meeting of the Knesset Education Committee, where it was stated there are 18,000 kindergartens nationwide that do not have security guards. He confirmed this, explaining police check schools and then recommend what security is required by the onus of providing the security falls on local government, which he added generally receives funding from the Education Ministry and other government agencies.

Gerverchik stressed that the relevant government agencies must allocate funding for school security, which is sorely lacking today.

Regarding Ramat Beit Shemesh and the many illegal PA residents walking around freely, Gerverchik explained there are 18,000 PA illegals in Green Line Israel daily. He explained that when police apprehend an illegal, he is sent back over the Green Line for the first offense. The second time he is jailed but the courts simply release them so there is no deterrence. He agreed with radio host Betzalel Kahn who stated the courts must get tough with the Jewish contractors who employ the illegals for cheap labor and this will serve as a deterrence.

In short, Gerverchik explained the matter is worrisome and complicated but Israel Police is not always the agency at fault as some believe is the case.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)