Israeli police officers (illustrative). Photo: Mark Probst via Wikimedia Commons.

In the current era, terrorism “has no political or organizational limits,” Israel’s top police officer said on Thursday.

Addressing the International Homeland Security Forum in Jerusalem, Police Commissioner Roni Alsheikh said, “The Israeli Police carries out classic policing and law enforcement operations, but we are also responsible for public safety by law. In the past, the security threats were mainly of wars, conducted by armies within the borders of the state. The security burden has gradually shifted to the shoulders of the Israel Police.”

“Terrorists are less vulnerable because they do not occupy a defined territory and they represent a radical ideology making decisions sporadically,” Alsheikh explained. “Through cyber space and the knowledge that is available, this process has also created a blurring of the boundaries between crime and terrorism.”

“In our case,” Alsheikh added, “we are dealing with the phenomenon of ‘lone wolf,’ which requires all the police for a rapid response capability at any time and anywhere, no matter what the role.”