Several major communities in Judea and Samaria are slated to be stripped of their IDF-sponsored security, Israel Hayom learned Wednesday.
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The communities in question are part of the Gush Adumim settlements bloc in Judea and include Alon, Kfar Adumim, Nofei Prat, and Kedar. All are dedicated to a unique lifestyle of cooperation between religious and secular residents.
Once the move is complete the only community along the Jerusalem security barrier where the IDF would continue to oversee security would be Beit Horon.
Gush Adumim residents slammed the plan, telling Israel Hayom that they feel the military is "abandoning" them to their fate over power struggles between the branched of the defense establishment.
In 2006, the government decided to transfer security responsibility for communities along the barrier, commonly referred to as the "Jerusalem envelope" area, from the IDF to the Border Police, and it was agreed to form joint committee to oversee the issue within three months, with the IDF maintain security on the ground until such time as the preparatory work is completed.
As time went by, the Border Police assumed the task of providing security to these localities, but the funds remained in the hands of the IDF and the Defense Ministry.
As such, these subsidies suffered significant erosion over time. Several years ago, the National Security Council recommended the relevant budget be entrusted with the police, but while the police outlined the exact components necessary as part of the 50 million shekel ($16 million) budget, the move never came to fruition.
Police and Public Security Ministry official said the blame lies with the National Security Council.
Local residents were critical of the various security branches over the fact they are dragging their feet.
"The needs for settlement [security] have changed, and the army's standards do not correspond to reality," one resident said.
Another added, "Everyone - the National Security Council, the Defense Ministry and the Public Security Ministry – shirks off responsibility for the issue."
Avichai Shorshan, head of security at Kfar Adumim lambasted the government bodies involved, saying, "Are they waiting for a disaster to happen? We have a large academic institution – how are we supposed to secure it? This issue has been mishandled for two decades."
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