Search Operations Using Dogs at Checkpoints not Routine, says Israeli Internal Security Minister

28 September 2007

Jerusalem – Ma'an – The Israeli Internal Security Minister, Avi Dichter, has denied that searches using dogs are part of the routine methods used at the Qalandia checkpoint in the central West Bank.

He said that dogs were not used very often in search operations and were only used in special cases when searching for explosives.

Dichter was replying to a letter from the head of the Islamic movement in Israel, Ibrahim Sarsour, who is also a Member of the Israeli Knesset, concerning the use of dogs for searching Palestinians at checkpoints, especially the Qalandia checkpoint which connects Jerusalem and Ramallah.

He said there was currently no other option other than using dogs, adding that the Israeli security apparatus was looking into other technologies that may be available.

Dichter promised that he would give his instructions to the police and private security firms that run the checkpoints to understand Palestinian citizen's feelings about the use of dogs and to minimize the use of this search method.

In the letter, Dichter strongly denied that the use of dogs was a harsh and inhumane measure that had been introduced by the Israelis as part of the search system at the Qalandia crossing.