Two months after becoming head of the Israel Border Police's Southern District, Commander Tomer Eldar believes he is in the right place at the right time to tackle the challenges of high crime in the Arab sector.
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Eldar served in an elite tactical unit where he gained the necessary skills and knowledge to deal with such crimes, document and them and find a way to convict the perpetrators. In an exclusive interview with Israel Hayom, he explained that due to the alarming violence in the Arab sector, the Southern District was working to enhance its command and control capabilities.
"It is no longer about reinforcing a team here and there; we understand that the situation has changed and we are now focused on delivering results."
Eldar also said there the Southern District that there is a manpower shortage, which means that "the number of tasks far exceeds the number of people we can assign to them and if I could double our staff we would be able to conduct many more operations."
Q: Your efforts to curb the illegal arms trade are not always appreciated.
"I don't just fight for every gun. I fight for every bullet, magazine, and weapon. Those who think that the guns are just laid out for us in the living room do not understand the incredible effort involved. Over 100 weapons have been rounded up this year – rifles, pistols, explosives, and grenades. This is a large amount, and it required a lot of effort [to achieve this].
"There are regular clan rivalries that are very common: Two families get into a conflict and a feud begins. In the end, they show their power through violence. More often than not, it's the innocent ones who get hurt. But what is most difficult is that there is very little cooperation on behalf of members of the sector. Even if 1,000 saw the shooting, they do not come forth as witnesses."
Eldar further lamented the state's lack of response to the alarming situation.
"We must not forget that the Border Police is not the only agency responsible. For years, parts of the population have been neglected and ignored by the state, perhaps because it was convenient to turn a blind eye."
Q: How about your war on the illegal trade of marijuana?
"Our force alone has busted 400 illegal marijuana growing operations. We destroyed the sites and continue to invest great efforts in this. We also cooperate with the Nature and Parks Authority and all other environmental agencies that can help."
Q: There have also been cases of gun theft from IDF bases.
"Three months ago, a large amount was stolen from the Natan Base and we tracked down the thieves and their vehicle. These were hundreds of gun parts that could have been assembled into dozens of weapons. We are now in the process of tasking an entire company to this issue alone."
With regard to the sense of insecurity among the area's residents, Eldar insisted on distinguishing between the facts on the ground and the perception people have.
"The sense of insecurity is already improving. We have made 2,000 arrests this year so far, and we respond to every incident in full force, sending out trackers, investigators, and drones. Also, agricultural crime is down 13%."
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