Liberman Calls Security Checkpoints ‘Chaotic’

Hamodia Staff

YERUSHALAYIM – Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman admitted on Monday that security checkpoints in Yehudah and Shomron are badly managed and must be improved, The Jerusalem Post reported.

MK Abdel-Hakim Haj Yahya (Joint List) asked Liberman about conditions at the checkpoints during his Questions Hour at the Knesset. The MK said that Palestinians often complain they have to wait for hours on line to cross into Israel. Israelis often also get stuck in traffic jams at checkpoints on roads.

Liberman explained that the situation is due to a lack of personnel to man the checkpoints.

“What’s happening at checkpoints is unreasonable, and there is no doubt it harms our security,” he stated.

In addition, he noted a lack of governmental coordination. The Airports Authority, Defense Ministry and Public Security Ministry all deal with checkpoints, creating a “complicated chaos.”

Liberman expressed hope that the matter will be addressed in next year’s budget, “to improve things from every perspective — security and humanitarian.”

Responding to a question about the rapprochement with Turkey, Liberman said the most important consideration is its impact on Israel’s relationship with Egypt.

Egypt, he said, “is our most important and serious ally in the Middle East and among Arab states.

“I personally invested a lot of effort in building relations built on trust and cooperation,” Liberman added.

Regarding the agreement to allow Turkey to send ships to Gaza, Liberman said as long as it’s humanitarian aid and Israel can supervise what enters Gaza, he has no objection.