Police Commissioner David Cohen said on Tuesday that he he was concerned by the possibility of ideology-based murders against public officials in Israel.

"One of the most disturbing topics of the times is murder for ideological reasons which could occur in Israel," Cohen said at a conference dealing with crime and law enforcement.

Open gallery view Police chief David Cohen. Credit: Emil Salman

Cohen said the growing threats against public figures on the one hand, with over 100 public figures needing police protection, and the insufficient punishing handed down by the courts, were a dangerous situation, yet he warned that the police should not be tested on the matter.

"Such a thing is equated to a threat against the law itself," Cohen said, adding that "the policy is unclear – any person who threatens a public figure is destined to be arrested, investigated and charged."

"A democratic country will not accept such threats," Cohen said. The police chief also expressed concern about the rising murder rates of murder within the family, which rose drastically during 2010.

The police chief said that most criminal cases that made it to court received only 25 percent of the maximum legal punishment for the crime, and indicated that he wanted the courts to hand down more significant sentences.

The police commissioner added that increasing the police force by over 1,000 police officers would significantly decrease the crime rate in the country, which is what the police force aims to achieve.