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Acting Prime Minister Ehud Olmert this afternoon, visited National Police Headquarters. Public Security Minister Gideon Ezra, Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi, Prime Minister’s Office Director-General Ilan Cohen, Prime Minister’s Military Secretary Maj.-Gen. Gadi Shamni and other senior Government and Israel Police officials accompanied the Acting Prime Minister, who met with the Israel Police senior command.
Following are excerpts from Acting Prime Minister Olmert remarks:
“In the end the our way of life in this country is measured by each and every citizen’s sense of personal security, which begins with external violence and ends in the violence involved in property crimes and in citizens’ homes. The Government of Israel will be your abiding partner in the unceasing struggle against corruption; on this issue, our interests do not diverge. In my opinion, there are three main issues that must be dealt with. The first is personal security. This is the base that every citizen feels he cannot do without. The second is physical security, freedom of movement and the preservation of citizens’ property and security against foreign intrigue and terrorist acts. The third is our society’s way of life and its institutions.
I am aware of the restrictions and limitations and I promise you full partnership and full sensitivity in finding the correct ways and responses.
You need to do what you know how to do - fight terrorism and protect the personal security of every citizen against internal violence which today has become a threat to our way of life.
I want to thank you for your participation yesterday in the brilliant operation that led to the arrest of the six terrorists who were being detained in the Jericho Mukata; I promised that we would not allow their escape and that we would arrest them and bring them to justice in the State of Israel. The Israel Police officers, your special operations units, were a vital part of yesterday’s action and I must say that your contribution to the war on terrorism is exceptional, congratulations!
This is the same Israel Police that stones are thrown at and whose commanders are set upon in other contexts, and this is a pity. This is the police force that defends Israeli citizens and fights against terrorism, as it did yesterday as an inseparable part of the operation. I want to say that the timing of yesterday’s operation was dictated by the decision of the American and British governments to withdraw their wardens that had been sent there as part of the deal and understanding that the prisoners would be in this facility under international supervision. We made it known that we would not intervene as long as the international supervision was in place. I want it to be clear, it never occurred to me that the international supervisors would leave and that these murderers, these murders of an Israeli minister and leader, would go free from prison without our capturing them and punishing them. We made it clear to all and sundry that the moment the supervisors left, we would be there in order to see that justice was done. We had reason to assume that the supervisors were about to leave; therefore, our forces were ready. I gave the order, at the first moment, to IDF Chief-of-Staff Lt.-Gen. Dan Halutz and to Defense Minister Mofaz - there were no time constraints, the operation would continue as long as necessary, even one or two days if need be. I demanded two things: That no IDF soldier or Israel Police officer be hurt. We were dealing with armed murderers; they could have barricaded themselves. I thought that they had to be brought to trial and not allowed to flee; I did not want Israeli blood to be spilled and I told our people to act slowly and patiently because I did not want an Israeli soldier or policeman to be hurt. I also demanded and instructed to avoid unnecessarily harming Palestinians who were not wanted by us. We did not want to destroy the structure and leave 200 dead, with the six fugitives among them. We needed to apprehend those whom we sought and release the rest, we are not at war with every Palestinian, we are not at war with every Palestinian policeman, we are not at war with every Palestinian citizen, we are at war with murderers.
The outcome was exceptional. We told the military and security personnel to leave the outside pressures to us, act quietly, patiently, wisely and in complete cooperation with the ISA, the Israel Police, the IDF and see to it that the fugitives come out, that those who do not need to be hurt are not, that no Israeli citizen, policeman or security personnel is hurt, and that the operation is a complete success.
I must note the wall-to-wall international backing. You heard British Foreign Minister Jack Straw and the US State Department personnel, none made any demands or used any pressure; all placed full blame on the Palestinian Authority. All gave full backing to our decision, to the way in which we waged this struggle and to the result that underscored to the whole world that terrorists will be brought to justice.
I would like to say to someone who was my political rival for many years, whom I never agreed with, to retired Maj.-Gen. and Israeli minister Rechavam Zeevy, may God avenge his blood, that the People of Israel restored your honor yesterday in the action that we took.
I would like to say that the cooperation that I have received from the Israel Police command and from Israel Police Commissioner Karadi these past months, which have been very sensitive, is worthy of all praise.
Commissioner Karadi, know that I have full confidence in your sagacity, in the prudence of your actions and in the performance of the Israel Police senior command, which has brought much honor to the People of Israel, to the security forces in general and to the brave personnel of the Israel Police, in all of their responsibilities. I thank Minister Ezra for the cooperation that has existed between us for many years and especially these past months in which we have had to make decisions that were not simple. Thank you all.”
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