----- Original Message -----
From: <imra@...>
To: <imra@...>
Sent: Thursday, July 08, 2004 11:05 PM
Subject: IDF Readjusts to the Needs of the Palestinian Population


IDF Readjusts to the Needs of the Palestinian Population
Thursday 08/07/2004 18:21
Link: www1.idf.il/DOVER/site/mainpage.asp?sl=EN&id=7&docid=32567.EN

All trainees of the Military Police Corps officially graduated on Wednesday
including trainees of the newly established Checkpoint Unit. The mission of
the Checkpoint Unit is to establish a security mechanism to prevent the
passage of terrorists from PA territory into Israel while maintaining both
Israeli and Palestinian daily routine.

The establishment of the Checkpoint Unit and the Internal Investigation
Military Police base in Judea & Samaria is part of a conceptual and
organizational shift, especially prominent in the Military Police Corps.
The
new concept aims at readjusting to the needs of the Palestinian population.

The Checkpoint Unit

The Checkpoint Unit is currently being formed under the command of a
Lieutenant Colonel from the Military Police Corps. The mission of the
Checkpoint Unit is to establish a security mechanism to prevent the passage
of terrorists from PA territory into Israel while maintaining both Israeli
and Palestinian daily routine.

The military policemen are assigned to various locations along the security
fence after graduating from a new course at the Corps training base -
Strategic Security Guards' Course. The military policemen are trained in
routine checks using advanced technological measures, such as biometric
identification, luggage x-ray machine, smell-devices, magnometric gates,
etc.

The military policemen will study spoken Arabic and attend lectures by
spokesmen from civil rights organizations. Both male and female Military
Police soldiers will be assigned to the checkpoints to prevent religious
conflicts.

The new project also includes an improvement in the checkpoint
infrastructure and physical conditions, which is expected to facilitate
rapid passage of Palestinians while providing maximal security to Israeli
citizens.

Judea and Samaria Military Police

The mission of this base is to provide a high-quality solution for local
complaints and enhance the enforcement of norms among IDF soldiers. Since
the beginning of "Ebb & Flow" and the entry of IDF forces to Palestinian
population centers in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, there has been a
significant increase in the scope of Internal Investigations activity, in
particular in Jerusalem, due to local complaints.

The Jerusalem Internal Investigation has approximately 250 ongoing
investigations (of about 330 in total across all areas) concerning local
complaints and various investigations on conduct unbecoming of IDF
soldiers.
The future investigators assigned to this base will study spoken Arabic at
the School of Military Government.



--------------------------------------------
IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis
Website: www.imra.org.il