Israel police holds event at Israeli-Lebanese village
Police holds first ever community event in Ghajar, a village sitting astride the Lebanese-Israel border, whose Alawi residents hold Israeli citizenships; 650 local students marvel as police, Magen David Adom, firefighters demonstrate devices used in line of duty.
The Israel Police held a first ever community-police event over the weekend for students from the village of Ghajar, straddling boths sides of the Israeli and Lebanese borders.
The international border between the two countries runs through the village, whose northern sector falls inside Lebanon. However, the village's Alawi residents hold Israeli citizenships.
The village's partition has been the cause of numerous problems, including many which stem from security-related matters. Since the Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, Ghajar was declared by the IDF chief of staff to be a closed military zone.
Police said holding the event was made possible thanks to collaboration between the Kiryat Shmona police, the local council and administration of the local schools.
Some 650 local students from the first to twelfth grade participated in the community and police day events, in which fire fighters and Magen David Adom paramedics also participated.
The students were afforded the opportunity to visit stations showcasing various devices police regularly use in the line of duty. As part of the exhibit, participants were shown an explosive-neutralizing robot, various forensic tools and animals utilized in police operations, such as horses and sniffer dogs.
"It was moving to see the students' enthusiasm and excitement. You could really see the smiles on their faces as they watched the display of police tools or pet the dogs and horses. We'll continue contributing and working for the village's residents," said police officers who participated.
The council's village spokesman Najib Hatib said the event was extraordinary as many of its denizens don't usually venture outside its borders.
"Life is hard here and children aren't exposed to the outside world as they are elsewhere in Israel. We try to get as many things as we can to the village. Today, for instance, we're inaugurating a park erected by Mifal HaPayis, the most beautiful in the country," he said.
"The police day was a great success, providing a great extracurricular activity. We got positive feedback from both the kids and educational staff. It was very nice and informative watching the mounted police, demolition forces and students learning how the police conducts itself on the scene. On behalf of the council, we wish to thank the police and its chiefs," Hatib concluded.
