Israel Police Marks 2012 As The ‘Turning Point Year’

Ministers of Internal Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch (L), and Police Commissioner, Yohanan Danino (R), look into the audience at a ceremony awarding ranks to senior police officers. Jerusalem, Israel. 30th January 2012.

Minister of Internal Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch, and Police Commissioner, Yohanan Danino, take part in a festive ceremony awarding ranks to senior officers stressing their policy to strengthen ‘core police functions’ and reinforce the ‘front line’ of police services to the public including reallocation of organizational resources and personnel. The ceremony took place in the National Police Headquarters mess hall. Ten of the thirteen officers promoted to Chief Superintendent are station commanders and Border Police company commanders in accordance with Danino’s policy to reinforce the ‘front line’ of police, which serves as the ‘face of the police’ in the eyes of the public. Station chiefs promoted include Givatayim, Nazareth Illit, Modi’in, Harel, Migdal Haemek, Golan, Ofakim, and Arad police stations, previously considered “small” police stations in terms of numbers of policemen and the scope of the public they serve. Border Police company commanders promoted are Coral, Beit Horon and Company MZ in the Judea and Samaria.

Minister of Internal Security, Yitzhak Aharonovitch (L), Police Commissioner, Yohanan Danino (R) and wife award the rank of Brigadier General to Uzi Levy, Border Police Commander of Northern District. Jerusalem, Israel. 30th January 2012.

In addition, ranks of Brigadier General were awarded to Uzi Levy, Border Police Commander of Northern District, Soaaa Thaoch, Border Police Commander of the Jerusalem Envelope District, and Simeon Lavi, Commander of the Operations Division, Tel-Aviv District.

Minister of Internal Security Yitzhak Aharonovitch addresses police officers in a festive ceremony awarding ranks to senior officers and congratulates Police Commissioner Danino on rollout of new policy. Jerusalem, Israel. 30th January 2012.

Commissioner Danino stated “The move to implement 2012 as the ‘Turning Point Year’ will bisect all departments and districts. The center of gravity will move from the headquarters to the field. The move constitutes a new outlook for the public based on communal policing, strengthening field units, and providing more security and better service to the public.”

Minister of Internal Security Yitzhak Aharonovitch (2nd from R) and Police Commissioner Yohanan Danino (3rd from R) sing Israeli national anthem closing a festive ceremony awarding ranks to senior officers. Jerusalem, Israel. 30th January 2012.

Newly ranked officers include Yoram Barina, Yehonatan Zeidel, Shlomo Ben-Shushan, Yosef Katab, Meni Benyamin, Mualem Ami, Gilad Bahat, Larry Samara, Avraham Biton and Eliyahu Shmul.

Minister of Internal Security Yitzhak Aharonovitch (R) leaves police headquarters mess hall followed by security agent at conclusion of a festive ceremony awarding ranks to senior police officers. Jerusalem, Israel. 30th January 2012.

Al-Arakib Bedouins Escalate Their Protest – Jerusalem

Bedouins of the unrecognized village of Al-Arakib in the Negev Desert escalate their protest against KKL and its intention to forcefully evict them from, what they call their own land, in favor of forestation. Jerusalem, Israel. 29th January 2012.

Bedouins of the unrecognized village of Al-Arakib in the Negev Desert escalate their protest ascending to Jerusalem to protest in front of the Keren Kayemet LeIsrael – Jewish National Fund offices. The KKL-JNF is a quasi-governmental, non-profit organization, founded in 1901 to buy and develop land in Ottoman Palestine and later the British Mandate for Palestine for Jewish settlement. The Bedouins demonstrate against the intention of KKL-JNF to forcefully evict them from, what they call their own land, in favor of forestation. Some 85,000 Bedouins reside in 36 unrecognized villages in the Negev Desert. Residents of Al-Arakib claim their village has already been demolished 35 times. The KKL-JNF has recently deployed bulldozers on site and seem ready for the next phase although Al-Arakib residents claim their plea is still being debated in court.

Sheik Sayach Al-Turi, of the unrecognized Bedouin village of Al-Arakib in the Negev Desert, protests against KKL and its intention to forcefully evict Al-Arakib residents from, what they claim is their land. Jerusalem, Israel. 29th January 2012.

More here: Images Of My Thoughts

Bedouin Market Day – Beersheba

Every Thursday Bedouins and others congregate for Bedouin Market Day continuing a long tradition that has positioned Beersheba as the central place of commerce for Bedouins of the Negev Desert. Beersheba, Israel. 26th January 2012.

“Last Portrait: Painting for Posterity” at Yad Vashem

On the eve of Int’l Holocaust Remembrance Day “Last Portrait: Painting for Posterity” is unveiled at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum presenting some 200 portraits drawn by 21 artists in the face of death. Jerusalem, Israel. 22nd January 2012.

Portrait series by Jiri Valdstyn-Karlinsky on display in “Last Portrait: Painting For Posterity”. Valdstyn was commissioned to paint for the S.S. in Theresienstadt therefore had access to painting materials. Jerusalem, Israel. 22nd January 2012.

Curator Eliad Moreh-Rosenberg speaks passionately of “Last Portrait: Painting for Posterity” as exhibition is unveiled at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum on the eve of International Holocaust Remembrance Day. Jerusalem, Israel. 22nd January 2012.

Ethiopians March for Equality – Jerusalem

Thousands of Ethiopians and supporters join Mulet Hararo, who set out on a 70Km 3-day trek to Jerusalem from his home in Kiryat Malachi, at the Wohl Rose Garden opposite the Knesset protesting racism. Jerusalem, Israel. 18th January 2012.

Mulet Hararo, 26, an IDF officer and physical education student, who just finished a 70Km 3-day trek to Jerusalem from his home in Kiryat Malachi is joined by thousands of Ethiopians protesting discrimination. Jerusalem, Israel. 18th January 2012.

Check it out HERE!

Haredim Attempt to Ignite Jerusalem

Police break up rioting by hundreds of Haredim in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat following the arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot and set dumpsters ablaze in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Police break up rioting by hundreds of Haredim in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat following the arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim nearHundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

Hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Haredim riot in the neighborhood of Mea Shearim near Kikar Hashabbat protesting arrest of six community members this morning for alleged tax offenses worth millions. Jerusalem, Israel. 15th January 2012.

PhotoBlogAwards

Please vote for “images of my thoughts” at the PhotoBlogAwards here: http://v.photoblogawards.com/candidates.php

 

Is this the ‘one’?

with the G10 as a backup…

Or will it be

X-Pro-1

with the X100 as a backup?

Which causes you to lose sleep? The Canon G1X or the Fuji X-Pro-1?

Breadcrumbs Are For Birds – Jerusalem

Youth Protection Services worker distributes breadcrumbs to colleagues symbolizing the unfair wages service employees earn at a demonstration outside the Ministry of Social Affairs. Jerusalem, Israel. 10th January 2012.

Firefighters In Action – Jerusalem

Firefighter at entrance to recently extinguished basement apartment. Five injured lightly. Five others trapped on top floors evacuated by crane. Jerusalem, Israel. 9th January 2012.

Lead by recently appointed Chief of Jerusalem Fire Brigade Shmulik Friedman, firefighters extinguish a basement apartment fire. Five injured lightly. Five others trapped on top floors evacuated by crane. Jerusalem, Israel. 9th January 2012.

Click photos for more or HERE!

“Revenge” Price-Tag Arson in Bet Tzafafa – Jerusalem

Yusuf stands by his torched car, somewhat in awe at the results of an alleged, extremist-Jewish, arson attack in Bet Tzafafa. Attackers left the Hebrew word "revenge" painted in red. . Jerusalem, Israel. 4th January 2012.

Extremist Jews allegedly burn two Palestinian-owned vehicles in the Arab village of Beit Safafa leaving the Hebrew word “revenge” painted in red. Jerusalem, Israel. 4th January 2012.

A memorial for nineteen Jewish victims of a terror attack that took place June 18th 2002 stands across the road from the scene of an alleged extremist-Jewish arson attack in Bet-Tzafafa. Jerusalem, Israel. 4th January 2012.

Just across the road from the scene of the crime stands a memorial for nineteen Jewish victims of a terror attack, mostly children on their way to school, that took place June 18^th 2002 when a suicide bomber blew himself up on a bus in the peak morning rush hours injuring an additional seventy-four.

ZAKA Train in Jerusalem

Orthodox Jewish ZAKA volunteers administer Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation in a training session. Jerusalem, Israel. 1st January 2012.

Three 2011 Milestones

Not in chronological order;

1. On June 1st 2011 “Images of My Thoughts” was officially registered as a business in Israel. I closed a 23-year chapter in life to open a new one, focused on one of my strongest passions – photojournalism … which leads to milestone number two.
2. On May 29th 2011 I received my Fujifilm X100 that has since pushed the Canon DSLR deep into the closet, rekindling a lust for photographic creativity and strengthening the newly opened photo-journalistic chapter.
3. On October 26th 2011 I underwent a heart cath – almost an epilogue, definitely a life changing experience, also the opening of a new chapter.

All three milestones come together in a 4-minute video;

 

 

So, here’s wishing us all many new and good chapters in 2012!

Celebrating the Eighth Night of Chanukah – Jerusalem

A young lady lights a chanukkiah, an eight-branched menorah, on the eighth and last night of the holiday of Chanukah. Jerusalem, Israel. 27th December 2011.

A young lady lights a chanukkiah, an eight-branched menorah, on the eighth and last night of the holiday of Chanukah. Jerusalem, Israel. 27th December 2011.

Merry Christmas!

President Shimon Peres visits St. Anthony’s Church – Jaffa

President Shimon Peres extends holiday greetings to Jaffa Christian representatives and Christian community leaders at St. Anthony's Roman Catholic Church on the Eve of Christmas. Jaffa, Israel. 22nd December 2011.

More HERE

Santa Claus distributes Christmas trees at Jaffa Gate – Jerusalem

Man dressed as Santa Claus stands on ancient old city walls beneath the King David Citadel tower near the Jaffa Gate overlooking the city. Jerusalem, Israel. 21st December 2011.

Click the pic!

City Engineer closes the Mugrabi Ramp – Jerusalem

Tourists are unable to visit the Temple mount as City Engineer orders immediate closure of Mugrabi Ramp due to public safety threat, totally blocking access to all non-Muslims to Temple Mount and Al-Aqsa. Jerusalem, Israel. 13th December 2011.

American TV Stars visit Israel – Jerusalem

America's Voices in Israel celebrities pose for photos with Public Diplomacy and Diaspora Affairs Minister, Yuli Edelstein, during visit to Israel to acquire a wider and deeper understanding of the country. Jerusalem, Israel. 12th December 2011.

Bedouins Protest Prawer Plan – Jerusalem

Thousands of Bedouins demonstrate opposite the Prime Minister's Office protesting the implementation of the Prawer Plan, suggesting relocation of 30,000 Bedouins from unrecognized villages in the Negev Desert into state planned towns. Jerusalem, Israel. 11th December 2011.

Thousands of Bedouins demonstrate opposite the Prime Minister's Office protesting the implementation of the Prawer Plan, suggesting relocation of 30,000 Bedouins from unrecognized villages in the Negev Desert into state planned towns. Jerusalem, Israel. 11th December 2011.

Thousands of Bedouins demonstrate opposite the Prime Minister's Office protesting the implementation of the Prawer Plan, suggesting relocation of 30,000 Bedouins from unrecognized villages in the Negev Desert into state planned towns. Jerusalem, Israel. 11th December 2011.