§ 177. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why Jewish supernumerary police are compelled to travel on duty in open tenders lacking in adequate protection; and whether he is aware that in consequence of this five Jewish supernumerary police were killed at Ufar Etzion and 12 at Ben Shemen recently.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsThe Jewish police concerned in the incidents to which toy hon. Friend refers were Jewish Settlement Police, whose normal duties are confined to the settlements which they are recruited to protect. They are not authorised to operate outside their own areas unless given orders to do so. The only open tender concerned in either of the incidents referred to was one in the Ben Shemen convoy carrying a number of Jewish Settlement Police. This tender was un-authorised and travelling against orders. The Jewish police escorts proper were distributed amongst the convoy vehicles. It is not possible for all police on duty to travel in armoured vehicles, nor could they carry out their functions effectively if they were to do so.
§ 178. Mr. Skinnardasked the Secretary of State for the Colonies why licences for firearms have been refused to the drivers of long distance buses of the Egged Company in Palestine.
§ Mr. Rees-WilliamsIt is not considered that to arm drivers of these or other buses would make for increased security, since the carrying of fire-arms by the driver of a vehicle constitutes no effective protection against smallarms fire from ambush. It is the opinion of the authorities in Palestine, which I share, that the indiscriminate arming of private persons is more likely to precipitate than to avert trouble. Similar requests by Arab transport drivers have been refused.