In response to the escalating violence of the Palestinian uprising, the national police force has announced a major shake-up in its senior command that will involve the retirement, replacement or promotion of nearly all its top officers.
Officials said “more young blood” will enable the police command to cope more effectively with the challenges of the intifada, rising crime and an alarming traffic accident rate.
Technical advances in police techniques also make it imperative to have new and younger minds at the helm, said Police Minister Moshe Shahal and Police Inspector General Yaacov Terner at a news conference here this week.
Three-quarters of the 65 newly named top officers have at least one university degree. Their appointments take effect over the coming year, beginning February, and lower to 44 the average age of the police command.
In a period marked by turbulence in the territories, the massive shake-up has been widely welcomed by the country in general and by the security establishment in particular.
Retirees include those who have reached or passed the police retirement age of 55. In their ranks are all area and regional commanders, commanders of the Prison Service and border police and the police controller.
The retirements, which open the road to advancement in the junior ranks, were welcomed by the force.
Terner himself is due to step down within a year.
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