The problem of terrorism in Israel has become marginal and Israel has no intention whatsoever of changing her policy of “open bridges” with Jordan, Israel Minister of Police, Shlomo Hillel said yesterday at a press conference sponsored by the American Sephardic Federation Hillel, who came here to convey “the blessing” of the Israeli government to the newly established Federation, admitted that Israel had a “certain amount” of crime increase last year, which he said was “due in a way to the increase in population.” According to Hillel, the tourist boom and the fact that more than one million Arabs from the administered territories have free entry into Israel has contributed to the increased crime rate.
Hillel asserted that Israel-has less crime than any other Western country. He cited only 45 murder cases in 1972 compared to 36 in the previous year. He said the worst crime Israel fears today is “the murder on roads” (auto accidents) by “aggressive” Israeli drivers who caused the death of 630 Israelis last year. Referring to the use of drugs in Israel, Hillel said that as a result of the “harsh measures” taken by the government against sellers and users of drugs, Israel is no longer the “paradise of hashish” that it was after the Six-Day War.
Referring to the downing of the Libyan plane, Hillel said he was sure it was not planned intentionally. If the Israelis had planned to shoot down the plane, he said, there was no reason for them to wait 16 minutes to do so.
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