Current and former senior police officers are calling on former police commissioner Kobi Shabtai to resign.
According to the officials, including former commissioners and superintendents, the recent attacks by the designated minister of national security, Itamar Ben Gvir, towards the commissioner regarding the appointments of officers to senior positions, and the attempt to harm his status and independence through legislation, require him to resign from his position.
This is "to save his honor and the honor of the police."
In this context, the designated Minister of Internal Security Itamar Ben Gabir told "Israel Today" that he does not want the commissioner to resign: "We will work in cooperation and we will have a good working relationship", he emphasized.
Commissioner Shabtai arrived at the Bat Mitzvah of his daughter designated minister Ben Gabir // Archive photo: Police Spokesperson
Shabtai is facing a decisive moment regarding his future: whether to risk an indictment from the Miron disaster conference that will force him to resign, or to resign on professional grounds when it becomes clear that his fight to preserve the independence of the police will fail.
Shabtai strongly opposes the bill to amend the Police Ordinance put forward by whoever is supposed to be in charge of the police.
He made his position clear already on Friday in a letter he sent to the police.
"I am alert to the public discourse and make it clear in the first person that the spirits of politics will not penetrate the Israel Police," he wrote.
This week Shabtai and Ben Gvir are expected to hold a first working meeting, during which Shabtai will expand on his opposition.
However, since the proposal was put forward that should reshape the relationship of forces between the commissioner and the minister in charge, the winds in the police are turbulent.
In the WhatsApp group of the forum of retired chiefs and senior chiefs, a message of condolence was published about the death of the police officer.
On the other hand, an associate of Ben Gabir, retired Superintendent Shlomi Ketbi, former commander of Shi District, wrote on Facebook: "The event you are experiencing today requires a certain response.
The same event tomorrow, when circumstances change, will require a completely different response.
Food for thought in the shadow of what is happening - and justice is relative." "Recipe for the destruction of the police"
A senior police officer who spoke to "Israel Hayom" warned that "no one from the senior staff of the police will want to be a platoon sergeant, Commanders' Avenue will only be harmed."
According to the official, "for 75 years the police were subject to the law. What happened that now obliges them to be subject to politicians who will treat them according to their worldview?".
"Not related to right or left"
Another senior official emphasized that "It has nothing to do with the right or the left. Tomorrow every minister from every party will have the authority to approve or disapprove demonstrations by citizens according to their political worldview. What kind of world do we want to live in?"
Strong opposition was registered regarding the clause in the bill that gives the minister the option to establish a prosecution policy.
"Tomorrow Ben Gvir can state that he does not intend to prosecute the youth of the hills," warned a senior police officer, "this is a recipe for the destruction of the body entrusted with law enforcement."
A former senior police officer added that although the proposed law does not concern Prime Minister-designate Netanyahu, "if this had happened a few years ago, then the minister at the time could have determined that they are not being prosecuted for the offense of breach of trust." The police budget was blocked by the attorney general.
"The budget is an administrative power that allows the commissioner to prepare the police for their tasks in accordance with the realization of their responsibilities," said a senior police officer.
Netanyahu.
The law came too late?, Photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The official added that "if the budget is with the minister - he will be able to determine that he takes police officers to secure the illegal outposts in Judea and Samaria, and this will also extend to mayors who will demand police officers and receive them according to political affiliation. There is no end to this. This is a great danger. It is true that the commissioner has more Minister's powers, and it is true that arguments arise here and there and there is a built-in tension between the parties, but in the end everyone got along without unnecessary laws."
A debate on the bill is expected to take place in the Knesset this week.
"This is how the independence of the police is emasculated. I will fight in the committee against this unnecessary force," clarified MK Merav Ben Ari from the Yesh Atid party, former chairman of the Internal Security Committee.
Ben Gvir is open to criticism but is determined to take authority for himself.
Ben Gvir even responded to the ombudsman's opposition to the bill and emphasized that he "has a hard time understanding how the ombudsman rushed to establish a position on the bill. This is a disappointing statement."
His associates emphasized that "by now they have gotten used to the minister being a pawn of the commissioner, it's time for the minister to outline the policy."
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us