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Israel Prison Service
*** On August 28, 2000 a special ward will be opened in the Hermon Prison in Northern Israel for the treatment of prisoners incarcerated for domestic violence. The ward will house 40 inmates who will participate in special programs. Domestic violence is a growing phenomenon in Israeli society, though it is not clear whether this can be attributed to increasing violence or to a growing awareness of victims and of the wider society, resulting in more complaints and criminal charges.
*** On May 11, 2000 a new Commissioner of Prisons took office. For the first time in the history of the IPS a woman was appointed to the job, Mrs. Orit Adato, formerly a Brigadier-General in the Israel Army. She replaced Amos Azani who served as commissioner for almost three and a half years.
*** In March 1999 the brand new Ha-Sharon Detention Center was opened next to the Ha-Sharon Prison. It is an ultra modern facility, offering advanced living conditions for the detainees and has highly sophisticated electronic monitoring.
*** In December 1998 the brand new Hermon facility was opened in the North of Israel near the Sea of Galilee. The prison has 720 beds, 480 of which will serve as a drug rehabilitation center, replacing the Sharon Prison for this purpose. The prison is build by ultra modern standards.
*** In May 1998 a major tragedy struck the Israel Prison Service, when a bomb exploded in the car of Brigadier-General Dr. Yakob Zigelboim,55, killing him almost instantly. Dr. Zigelboim served for years as Chief Medical Officer of the IPS and was recently appointed as Head of the Education, Treatment and Rehabilitation Department. Dr. Zigelboim, who was a much respected and central officer in the IPS command, was husband to Monique (a Lieutenant-Colonel in the IPS, head of the Conscription Office) and father of two children. The Israel Police appointed a large investigation team, but almost a year after the assassination, no leads have been found yet as to the motive or the assassins.
*** In February 1997 some 30 female Palestinian security prisoners were released form prison in the framework of the Israeli-Palestinian agreements (the "Oslo-Accords"). Some of the prisoners released were serving life sentences for murder of Israeli citizens.
*** On January 1, 1997 IPS Commissioner Arye Bibi left his
position, after serving 33 years in uniform (Army, Border Police, Police and IPS).
He was replaced by Amos Azani (previously the Commander of the Israel National Police Northern District) who was given his new ranks by Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu in a ceremony that took place in the Prime Ministers offices on January 1st.
*** On October 1st, 1996 The Sharon Prison (Israel's Drug Rehabilitation Center
with a capacity of over 400 drug rehabilitation involved inmates) was transferred
from the responsibily of the Central Command to the Northern Command.
This was done in order to enable further efficiency in the Central Command,
which will be left with the responsibility over 4 prisons, all in
one large complex near the city of Ramle. This step enables the
cut-back on job slots in the Central Command HQ.
*** In August 1996 two Palestinian security prisoners escaped from the Ashmoret Prison in the Northern District.
The 2 prisoners made a hole in the floor of their cell, and dug a 12 meter long tunnel. The tunnel passed underthrough the guard dogs, a fence, and the main wall of the prison.
The prisoners made their way into the Palestinian Authority and have as of yet not been recaptured. As a result a Commission of Inquiry was established and its outcome lead to the displacement of several senior prison officers.
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