Israel Prison Service

:"Shabas redirects here. For the Jewish weekly day of rest, see Shabbat. For the Christian day, see Sabbath in Christianity."The Israel Prison Service ( _he. שירות בתי הסוהר, "Sherut Batei HaSohar"), commonly known in Israel by its acronym Shabas (or IPS in English), is the Israeli prison service. It is responsible for maintaining civilian prisons in Israel, as well as some security prisons containing Palestinian detainees. It is under the jurisdiction of the Internal Security ministry.

Israel Prison Service personnel are trained in krav maga and conduct training for the prison service ("kli'a") wing of the Israeli Military Police.

Prisons

The IPS is divided into four blocs - north (north of Haifa), Sharon (between Haifa and Herzliya), center (between Tel Aviv and Ashdod), and south (south of Ashkelon). The approximate location of each prison is given in brackets.

North Bloc

*Carmel Prison (Oren Junction)
*Hermon Prison (North Tzalmon Creek Junction)
*Shata Prison (a.k.a. Shita Prison - HaShita Junction)
*Tzalmon Prison (North Tzalmon Creek Junction)

haron Bloc

*Ashmoret Prison (HaSharon Junction)
*Damun Prison
*HaSharon Prison (Hadarim Interchange)
*Rimonim Prison

Center Bloc

*Ayalon Prison (Ramla)
*Giv'on Prison (Ramla)
*Ma'asiyahu Prison (Ramla)
*Magen Prison (Ramla)
*Neve Tirtza Prison (Ramla)

outh Bloc

*Dekel Prison
*Eshel Prison
*Nafha Prison
*Shikma Prison (Ashkelon)

Detention centers

*Hadarim Detention Center
*Kishon Detention Center
*Ohalei Kedar Detention Center
*Nitzan Detention Center

Prisons for Palestinians

*Gilbo'a Prison (HaShita Junction)
*Megiddo Prison (Megiddo Junction)
*Ofer Prison
*Ktzi'ot Prison (Ktzi'ot Junction)

Under construction prisons

*Ramot Prison (next to Nafha)

Ranks

The ranks in the Israel Prison Service, in Hebrew, are as follows:

Jailors

*"Soher" - Warder
*"Rav Soher" - Warder First Class
*"Samal" - Sergeant

Non-commissioned officers

*"Rav Samal" - Staff Sergeant
*"Rav Samal Rishon" - First Sergeant
*"Rav Samal Mitkadem" - Master Sergeant (Sgt. Major)
*"Rav Samal Bakhir" - Warrant Officer 2nd Class
*"Rav Nagad" - Warrant Officer 1st Class

Officers

*"Meyasher Mishne" - 2nd Lieutenant
*"Meyasher" - 1st Lieutenant
*"Kalai" - Captain
*"Rav Kalai" - Major
*"Sgan Gundar" - Lieutenant Colonel
*"Gundar Mishne" - Colonel
*"Tat Gundar" - Brigadier
*"Gundar" - Major General
*"Rav Gundar" - Lieutenant General - commander of the prison service. The current commander (from 2007) is Benny Kaniak.

pecial units

Metzada

Metzada (named after Masada) is IPS's quick response and intervention force and specializes in suppression of prisoner uprisings, especially in prisons containing Palestinian detainees. It consists mainly of special forces veterans from the IDF. [cite web|url=http://www.ips.gov.il/NR/exeres/34B07B71-CB34-4CFE-B9B1-047A5356210B,frameless.htm|title=Metzada Unit|accessdate=2007-10-05|language=Hebrew]

Nahshon

Nahshon is the IPS's main intervention and conveyance unit and deals with searches, silencing disturbances, guarding IPS staff, etc. [cite web|url=http://www.ips.gov.il/NR/exeres/BBFDAF85-883A-491E-A6C5-3AB523A6A820,frameless.htm|title=Nahshon Unit|accessdate=2007-10-05|language=Hebrew]

Yamar Dror

Yamar Dror, founded at the end of 1993, is the IPS unit for fighting narcotics. It specializes in searches and interrogation.

Commanders

*Giri Gera - 1949-1951
*Ram Salomon - 1951-1952
*Zvi Hermon - 1952-1958
*Arye Nir - 1958-1976
*Haim Levi - 1976-1981
*Mordechai Wertheimer - 1981-1985
*Rafi Swisa - 1985-1986
*David Maimon - 1986-1987
*Levy Shaul - 1987-1990
*Gabi Amir - 1990-1993
*Arye Bibi - 1993-1997
*Amos Azani - 1997-2000
*Orit Adato - 2000-2003
*Yaakov Ganot - 2003-2007
*Benny Kaniak - 2007 to date

References

Bibliography

*"Israel Behind Bars: True Stories of Hope And Redemption", ISBN 0-9776736-0-X, by Rabbi Fishel Jacobs.

External links

* [http://www.ips.gov.il/shabas Official website] he icon
* [http://www.ips.gov.il/ShabasEng/Main/default.asp Official English website]
* [http://www.IsraelBehindBars.com First authorized book, website]