The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for the operational preparedness of the agencies under its authority: The Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service and the Fire and Rescue Services. Its main activity is unifying the authorities responsible for providing aid, mediating between them, and ensuring they operate effectively.
The Security Secretariat, the Emergency Administration, the Operational Information Center, and the Crisis Planning Forum are the units that aid the Minister of Public Security to implement his authority to the best of his ability.
In addition to the Ministry's preparation to act and respond in crises, every government ministry must also be prepared administratively for a crisis situation. The Ministry's Logistics Headquarters is in charge of coming up with emergency regulations, finding out the needs of the various units within the ministry and grouping them, and conducting the necessary logistic management.
What is an Emergency and Crisis Situation?
An emergency or crisis situation is an unusual event, which causes a severe deviation from the Ministry's regular activity, and may cause harm to the citizens of Israel or their possessions.
Crisis Situations for which the Ministry is Responsible
The Minister of Public Security's ministerial duty is to treat the following crisis situations:
- Terrorism (commanding, controlling and staff work, under the responsibility of the Israel Police)
- Public Disturbances (commanding and controlling under the responsibility of the Israel Police)
- Mass Disasters (commanding and controlling under the responsibility of the Israel Police)
- Earthquake (the general responsibility of the Ministry of Public Security. The Israel Police is responsible for providing immediate solutions)
In order for the Minister to optimally operate all the authorities for which he is responsible, he must have an updated situation report of everything that is going on in the field. Reliable information will help the minister make the right decisions regarding the functions and the proper means of operation of the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service and the Fire and Rescue Services; all by extensively cooperating with additional authorities that are responsible for the protection of citizens (i.e. the Home Front Command, the National Emergency Authority, the IDF, the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Health and Magen David Adom).