Danino: Youth violence is Israel's number one threat

Israeli Police Chief General Yohanan Danino said on Tuesday that youth violence is the number one threat and that it was "equal to external threats," such as terror threats on Israel's borders, The Jerusalem Post reported. The remarks came at a panel on Personal Security and Law Enforcement at the Herzliya Conference. Danino lamented the state of today's youth, noting that much of the spike in violence in Israeli society is emanating from teenagers and young adults. Although Danino did not make any specific references to recent racism and violence by fans of the Betar Jerusalem soccer team, many of those recently arrested for racist-related crimes and violence were teenagers or young adults. He said that "anyone looking at the future must worry about our youth, the reduced motivation for being drafted into the army and the reduced level of youth volunteers." Danino said that police frequently find 12 and 13 year-olds in questionable areas, committing crimes at 2:00 in the morning, and when they ask how the teenagers plan to get home or if their parents know where they are "there are no real answers." Danino also addressed the public image of the police, saying that police precincts post as a banner that their goal is to "raise the faith of the public in the police." He discussed the importance of balancing law enforcement with honoring personal freedom and expressed optimism that both could be accomplished and that the police were succeeding in reducing many forms of crime and in responding faster to citizens' calls for help. Danino also blasted the extent of public corruption and said that despite police success in fighting public corruption, the phenomenon was still widespread. He also made reference to a joint meeting and efforts with Palestinians and Jordanians regarding the "war on traffic accidents." Finally, Danino said that the police were working hard to prepare for US President Barack Obama's visit and that it was a large responsibility to facilitate the visit going off without problems.