In light of a petition filed by Israel’s News 10, it has been revealed who is legally permitted to have and use a blue [or red] emergency light and whose is unauthorized. In addition to police, fire and EMS, emergency lights are used to clear paths when authorized VIPs are moving in a vehicular convoy as well as other high-ranking civil servants, including the Director-General of the Finance Ministry.

One may wonder why some are permitted to use an emergency light, including the above-mentioned case, or perhaps the personnel from the Israel Antiquities Authority and the Ministry of Communications for example. In total, 170 people are authorized to use the light on the nation’s roadways.

Some time ago, News 10 was exposed to the fact that the director-general of the Ministry of Finance, Shai Babad, used an emergency light for his own personal needs, and of course, contrary to what is permitted by law. As a result of the news report, the criteria were restated and has become increasingly stringent, but the list has still grown from 146 to 170.

Twenty years ago, a committee was set up whose role was to decide who would be permitted to have an emergency light, persons who require arriving at a scene as quickly as possible. Three years ago, it was decided that the granting of the right to an emergency light would also become a status symbol, and the flashing light was also distributed to the directors-general of government ministries and deputy ministers.

Among the persons who requested approval for an emergency light and received one are Jerusalem Mayor Barkat, Deputy Minister Litzman and Welfare Minister Katz, who used the light to attend events such as Rabbi Steinman’s ZT”L levaya. However, some maintain such an event does not constitute ‘real need’.

Attorney Tomer Naor of the Movement for Quality Government said that it seems that the ‘protektzia’ [who one is politically connected] plays a role: “There is a feeling here that all kinds of people who are ‘connected’ and have their own interests and are the ones who receive the permit, that flashing blue flashlight, to arrive at weddings and events and use prohibited means intended for security forces and rescue services” .

Karen Turner, the director-general of the Ministry of Transport, explained that even a person entitled to a light in his car may only operate it in times of emergency: “Even if he has an emergency light, he can operate it only in times of emergency. If someone gets a light and drives in the morning to shorten traffic jams on the seafront or on public transportation, he must receive a fine and points on his license.”

Deputy Minister Litzman also said in response: “The deputy minister participated in the funeral of HaGaon HaRav Steinman, a public event for which major traffic arteries were blocked and accompanied by police escort and according to the legal procedure in these cases.”

Mayor of Jerusalem, Barkat, said in response: “The blue light in the mayor’s car is activated in urban emergency events, in accordance with the nature and complexity of the event.”

“We will not respond to recycled articles from a year ago, and we are confident that with a serious journalistic effort, you will be able to find new, more interesting and new materials,” said Shai Babad, director general of the Ministry of Finance.

(YWN Israel Desk – Jerusalem)