The Ministry of Public Security is responsible for the operational preparation and the readiness for emergencies and crises, of all the authorities subjected to it: the Israel Police, the Israel Prison Service and the Fire and Rescue services. This is according to the ministry's authority and responsibility, as defined by the law and the government's decisions.
Its main activity is unifying the authorities responsible for providing aid; mediating between them; and operating them effectively. There is great significance in ensuring the continuity and consecutiveness of all functions in such situations; whether it is the functions of the aiding authorities, the market or the society as a whole. The Ministry's authorities and responsibilities are defined by the law and the government's decisions.
The Security Secretariat, the Emergency Administration, the Operational Information Center, and the Crisis Planning Forum; are the units that would 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.
Transferring the Firefighting Authority
The process of transferring the Fire and Rescue authority from the Ministry of Internal Affairs to the Ministry of Public Security was completed in 2011, which subsequently initiated the process of establishing a national firefighting force, constructed according to a hierarchal and commanding scale, as per the requirement of the State of Israel.
Throughout 2011 and presently as well, the Ministry has been operating an overarching plan which includes:
- The establishment of a national firefighting authority administration
- Completion of a drafting and training process of 300 new firefighters for the Firefighting Commissionership
- Renovating the national firefighters' school
- The establishment of a national control center
- Purchasing 88 new fire trucks and new defense equipment for firefighters
- Completing the distribution of the "Shalhevet" operational software program among the firefighting services