The recent tragic events that unfolded in Israeli towns near the Gaza Strip, commonly referred to as the "Black Shabbat" by many Israelis has had profound implications, leading to the rapid formation of standby civilian patrol groups, often referred to as "neighborhood watches," across various cities in Israel. As of now, there are already over 500 such civilian patrols throughout the country, where residents willingly join forces to help thwart potential acts of terrorism by their Palestinian neighbors.
One notable example of this grassroots initiative can be found in the North Tel Aviv community group. They have officially established a standby patrol group responsible for monitoring Yarkon Park, with plans to extend their presence to the neighborhood's main square. In Modi’in Maccabim-Reut, three standby civilian squads have been established, with their duration of service remaining uncertain until the end of the ongoing conflict. Remarkably, some municipalities have gone so far as to procure long-barreled weapons for the volunteers in these emergency groups. Mayor Rahamim Malol of Rehovot has even gone a step further, pledging to create a standby unit in every neighborhood within his city and urging eligible residents to volunteer for the sake of community security.
מתחילת המלחמה הקמנו 496 כיתות כוננות ברחבי הארץ, נמשיך לחמש את האזרחים ולהקים כיתות כוננות חמושות. נשק מציל חיים! pic.twitter.com/Cdt5KIwncV
— איתמר בן גביר (@itamarbengvir) October 23, 2023
The Haifa Municipality has also released a statement outlining the establishment of a "Neighborhood Watch" initiative, led by the Israel Police. This organization will include reservists and be under the guidance of the Home Front Command and community loyalists. Notably, members of this group will not be armed and will operate under the jurisdiction of the Haifa Municipality.
The genesis of these armed civilian groups stems from a government meeting held last Sunday, during which two key topics were discussed in the Knesset's National Security Committee. These topics revolved around the rapid arming of citizens and the expansion of standby classes. MK Tzvika Fogel, the committee's chairman, emphasized the importance of empowering individuals and communities to enhance their security measures, ensuring preparedness for any potential threats.
"הקמנו 11 כיתות כוננות בערים, היום מקימים שבעה נוספים ובימים הקרובים יהיו עוד" - נציג המשטרה הציג את תוספות הנשק בועדה לביטחון לאומי: "3840 נשקים חולקו לטובת התכנית שבמג"ב. זה כבר נמצא בשטח"@israelpolice pic.twitter.com/R13SxtMhKC
— ערוץ כנסת (@KnessetT) October 22, 2023
During the committee meeting, it was disclosed that both the police and the Ministry of National Security, for the first time ever, procured thousands of weapons and initiated the equipping of civilian standby squads through the Border Patrol units, typically consisting of 12 members each. With the number of civilian patrol units soaring from 111 standby units to an impressive 536, the ultimate objective is to distribute 20,000 weapons among these groups. This ambitious move underscores the commitment of Israelis to protect their communities and ensure their safety in these challenging times.
