Israel Police will post a 24-hour watch at Kever Shmuel
Hanovi, Jerusalem District Commander Ilan Franco told HaRav
Shmuel Rabinovitz on Monday.
After the police recently stopped its round-the-clock watch
at Nebi Samuel, vandals attacked the beis knesses at
the site, desecrated a sefer Torah and other religious
articles. Sensitive security facilities are also located
nearby and security officials warned that guards should be
posted on the mountaintop site.
When police were criticized in the aftermath of the attack
for failing to post officers, police officials met with HaRav
Rabinovitz, who serves as rov of the holy sites. At the
meeting an arrangement was made to have Rabbi Yosef Shwinger,
director of the National Center for the Development of Holy
Sites, step up the renovation plan at the site. It was also
agreed overseers would be stationed at the site to maintain
order and oversee the site while the police would assist in
enforcing directives.
Jerusalem Police Commander Franco issued orders to post
policemen at the site 24 hours a day until funding for
civilian guards is arranged. Previously a decision was made
to station guards at the site but Finance Ministry officials
torpedoed efforts to arrange funding. After the recent
incident, however, the ministry faced pressure to secure
funding to provide proper security at the site.
