A Frontline No One Anticipated

On October 7, thousands of heavily armed terrorists surged across Israel’s southern border, expecting chaos and collapse. What they encountered instead were Israel Police officers—typically tasked with traffic control and civilian law enforcement—charging into battle with little more than sidearms. Many hadn’t received combat training in years. Still, they held the line, risking their lives to protect the communities of the Gaza envelope.

Retired Deputy Commissioner and Lt. Col. (Res.) Uri Engelhard captured the moment bluntly: “They ran into the fire without hesitation.” Their heroism was real. Their resistance saved lives. But it also laid bare a critical truth: the Israel Police, long seen as a civilian body, has become a frontline actor in the country’s defense writes the IDSF Editorial Staff. The transformation is profound—and irreversible.

Heroes, Not Scapegoats

This courage revealed a troubling paradox. The police bore no responsibility for the intelligence failures that allowed the October 7 attacks, yet they were the first to face the terrorists on the ground—outgunned, outmanned, and underprepared. Tasked with halting an invasion, they fought with limited gear and no coordinated battlefield plan.

Uri Engelhard is well placed to comment. A veteran of Israel’s defense and high-tech sectors, he joined the police during the Second Intifada to lead a major technological overhaul. What he saw then—and continues to see—is a vital institution expected to shoulder growing responsibilities with diminishing support. The burden is unsustainable, and the blame misplaced.

Civil Servants in a War Zone

What began as an emergency response is now business as usual. The Israel Police are not just enforcing traffic laws or investigating theft. They are on the frontlines of terror attacks, tackling organized crime, responding to rising violence in Arab communities, and absorbing the consequences of failing welfare systems and infrastructure.

Despite this, the police are still treated as a municipal service—funded, trained, and equipped accordingly. The growing gap between what the public expects and what the system provides is dangerous. It not only erodes public trust but leaves officers without the tools to succeed in a fundamentally changed mission.

Rebuilding From Within

Engelhard calls for a comprehensive reset, beginning with recognition: the police must be formally acknowledged as a pillar of national security. That acknowledgment must come with funding, staffing, and support. Any law or policy that expands police responsibilities must be matched by proportional investment. Without it, the system will collapse under the weight of its own contradictions.

Crucially, recruitment must be reformed. Today, the police often receive the IDF’s leftover conscripts. Engelhard proposes a choice-based system where mandatory service can be fulfilled in the IDF, Border Patrol, or police. This would attract highly motivated individuals and elevate the force’s standards and professionalism.

Strengthening for the Future

Recruiting better candidates is only the start. Engelhard also calls for the reintegration of retired officers, many of whom bring irreplaceable experience and a deep commitment to service. Their return could provide vital mentorship and leadership. In parallel, all police personnel—active and reserve—must be combat-ready. That means regular tactical training, access to modern equipment, and integration of advanced technologies. If the police are now a strategic security force, they must be trained and outfitted like one.

A National Security Mindset Shift

But Engelhard argues that this is not just a structural issue—it’s a cultural one. Israel must replace its reactive, crisis-driven approach with a proactive, strategic mindset. The era of denial and appeasement—rooted in a diaspora mentality—is over. This shift includes repositioning the Border Patrol as the lead force in domestic hotspots, allowing the IDF to concentrate on external threats. It also demands deep investment in civic institutions, particularly education, to embed national values like unity, responsibility, and service. A resilient society, Engelhard insists, is Israel’s first and last line of defense.

Conclusion: A Moment That Must Mark a Turning Point

October 7 stripped away any illusions. The Israel Police are no longer just civil servants—they are soldiers on the home front. The officers who faced down terror that day showed extraordinary courage. But courage alone is not a security doctrine.

This was not just a dark day in Israel’s history; it was a decisive one. The police must be given the mandate, training, and resources their new role demands. If Israel fails to act, it risks repeating the very failures that led to disaster. If it acts decisively, it can forge a security force worthy of the times—and capable of protecting the nation’s future.