Weekly Commentary: Establishing Workable Response To Roads Blocked By
Rioters In Wartime Can Avoid Potential Bloodshed
Dr. Aaron Lerner 4 October 2023

First a reality check:

"100 armed (Israeli) Arabs suddenly go down to this or that road or artery
and hold up for 48 hours a division that has to deploy on the Lebanese
border within 24 hours."

Which of Israel's Public Security Ministers warned of this possible
scenario?

No. I am not quoting Itamar Ben Gvir.

That's Omer Barlev on Army Radio in October 2021.

"In wartime - I see attempts to harm IDF convoys as a threat to national
security. The police's operational role is to allow the passage of the
convoys, so anyone who stands in their way in a wartime situation, I see as
an enemy. The emphasis is during wartime, it's a danger to national
security."
Chief of Police, Yaakov Shabtai

Which brings us to the report on KAN TV last night of the decision of the
Israeli Police to work on preparing a revision of the conclusions of the Or
Commission which removed gunfire from the toolbox of the police when dealing
with rioters blocking a road under any circumstances.

To be clear: We aren't talking about a bunch of jerks blocking the Ayalon
on a Saturday night - or even access to Ben Gurion Airport at the height of
the travel season.

We are talking about an emergency security situation in which the timely
movement of forces and equipment is critical.

Sure, an unlimited number of elite Yassam in full battle gear complete with
special shields and other equipment could not only repel the rioters but
drag them off to an unlimited number of vehicles destined for detention
facilities.

But there's no magic wand to create such an unlimited force deployed
simultaneously at each and every potential location.

Let's be clear that if we are in a war and rioters block convoys and it is
apparent that non-lethal means are unable to remove the blockage within the
relevant timeframe that one of two things would happen:

#1. The senior commanders sitting in their air conditioned command post
authorize warning shots and more as necessary.

#2. An authority on the scene, in the absence of viable orders from above,
unilaterally proceeds with warning shots and more as necessary.

The irony? If everyone knows in advance that the consequence of rioting
and blocking roads during an emergency security situation is endangering
their own life and limb then the overwhelming majority of people who might
otherwise join in rioting and blocking roads during an emergency security
situation would be deterred from doing so.

So some advice for the High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel:

Instead of complaining that the police are thinking through what to do if
rioters block army convoys in the middle of a war, why not say:

#1. The police are preparing for a scenario which will not take place
because Israeli Arab citizens would never try to block army convoys in the
middle of a war.

#2. The High Follow-Up Committee for Arab Citizens of Israel declares that
it will condemn anyone, Arab, Jew or otherwise, who attempts to block army
convoys in the middle of a war.
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IMRA - Independent Media Review and Analysis

Since 1992 providing news and analysis on the Middle East with a focus on
Arab-Israeli relations

Website: www.imra.org.il