Will government collect guns?
Photo: Tel Aviv Police
Evacuees may be disarmed
Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra says idea initiated by Yesha Council member; settler leaders, however, say move would jeopardize evacuees’ security
TEL AVIV - Internal Security Minister Gideon Ezra is reportedly considering the idea of stripping settlers slated for evacuation off their weapons.
A Yesha Council member was the one who initiated the idea, Ezra said during a Prison Service meeting Tuesday.
“I was surprised that he concluded that the weapons must be collected, which is something I didn’t think of,” he said. “The procedure is very problematic, but he (Council member) estimated the population would understand.”
The Council member explained that he is worried that shots in the air by a disgruntled evacuee may lead to a disaster, Ezra said. Another concern voiced by the settler leader was the possibility of an evacuee hurting himself.
“If we decide to implement this, we’ll need full cooperation from the (settler) population,” Ezra said.
‘We call on residents to refrain from cooperating’
The minister noted he received information about the matter, but has not yet taken a decision.
“If Yesha Council leaders reach a similar conclusion we’ll have to implement this,” he said, and added that security forces tasked with facilitating the evacuation would not be armed.
“All along the way I said our forces would not be armed,” Ezra said, and noted that he plans to discuss the issue during a meeting with Yesha Council members later this week.
Council officials, however, slammed the idea and said disarming evacuees would be tantamount to deserting residents who are living in a high-risk area.
“If the minister acts to implement this order, we call on residents to refrain from cooperating with political decisions that endanger them and their families,” a Council statement read.
