A civilian model or an independent security body: the alternatives being considered for the new National Guard Israel today

As part of the first 100 days of the establishment of the government, Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir will soon present an alternative to the new National Guard structure.

"Israel Hayom" has learned that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu supports the alternative presented by Lt. Col. Gal Hirsch for the establishment of an "Internal Security Army", which will be headed by the Chief of Staff of the National Guard and will consist of five "reserve divisions", one regular division of which will be transferred to Matza to the police.

The Ministry of National Security is looking into establishing an immediate force based on tens of thousands of volunteers and reservists, as presented at the time by the New Guard organization, headed by Yoel Zilberman.

The emerging idea is to turn the Border Guard, with the exception of Yosh companies, into an independent security body that will operate under the minister, similar to the prison service.

Yoel Zilberman, photography: Yehuda Peretz

In the coalition agreement signed between Otzma Yehudit and Likud, it was determined that for the benefit of strengthening national and personal security and the establishment of the national security system and the National Guard, the budget of the Ministry of National Security will increase in the next seven years to the extent of NIS 45 billion.

It was also agreed that the Minister of National Security would be allowed flexibility in the allocation of budgets.

It was also determined that within 90 days of its establishment, the government will make a decision to regulate the Israeli National Guard.

One of the sections that raised many questions states that the MGB should be separated from the police, made into an independent service and subordinated to the minister.

The establishment of the Israeli National Guard was announced by the former Prime Minister, Naftali Bennett, on June 14 of this year, after drawing lessons from Operation Wall Guard.

To realize its establishment, Talia Lankri, former deputy head of the National Assembly and head of the counter-terrorism division, was appointed. But mainly due to the lack of budget, the establishment was stopped - with the exception of the construction of a headquarters body that began by recruiting volunteers, whose number currently stands at only about 300.

Fast operational response.

MGB, photo: Dodo Greenspan

"Israel Hayom" has learned that in preparation for bringing a new security program to the government, several alternatives are now being examined.

The first is a civilian model, that is - to continue the plan to establish a volunteer base within the Mageb, in a model similar to the one presented by the New Guard: the establishment of reserve brigades that will operate in emergencies and routines as an auxiliary body to the police, the establishment of 46 reserve companies and the increase of the regular strength of the Mageb by approximately 1,000 soldiers More regular.

independent security body

Another alternative being considered, which at this stage is met with opposition from the commissioner, but receives the support of the minister, is the transformation of the border guard into an independent security body that will operate under the command of the minister, increasing the regular SDF by 1,000 people and recruiting about 900 reservists in four regions of Israel For "point companies", which will be activated with a quick reading of up to six hours.

This means that for the first time in the country's history, the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be responsible for the exercise of governance in the areas of terrorism and illegal activities, for the collection of illegal drugs, for the treatment of armed robbers, for the elimination of protection phenomena and for the treatment of disturbances during emergencies, rural and agricultural crime, and the invasion of state lands.

exploring options.

Ben Gabir, photography: Yehuda Peretz

"This will allow the MGB to be physically present in the relevant areas as a deterrent, and will allow the police to be freed to deal with the normative citizens and to use the MGB when necessary," a police source told Israel Hayom this week.

"There is an immediate need to set up the guard. At the wall guard, due to the load of events, thousands of calls to hotline 100 were not answered."

Exhaustion of the power

The most grandiose alternative is the plan presented by Lt. Col. Gal Hirsch to establish an "internal security army", which will consist of five divisions within a regular division.

This is a seven-year plan at a cost of approximately 45 billion shekels, which was supported by the Prime Minister.

"Israel Hayom" has learned that as part of the plan, a state of emergency will be defined for internal security, a basic law will be enacted: the army for internal security, and the criminal organizations will be defined as "terrorist organizations".

The plan also concerns the extension of the "Southern Law" to citizens who protect their lives and property, and the isolation of serious criminals in special prisons.

It should be emphasized that last week the Minister of National Security announced that he would demand the immediate implementation of one of the coalition clauses, which allow the Shin Bet to be used in the war against the crime families.

Lankeri told "Israel Today" that since the events of 2000, and even more so since the Guardian of the Walls, it is clear to everyone that the heart of the country can become a combat arena, which is required to respond to police operations that specialize in combat in civil space and dialogue with the citizen.

Talia Lankri, photo: Keren Zamsky

"The State of Israel does not have an answer like the French Gendarmerie or the American National Guard, which allows for a quick call and arrival at the center of friction and its dispersal before it turns into a real conflict. "In Israel, the expert body on which a National Guard can be based is the Mageb," she added.

"However, his position under the command of the police does not allow for the proper use of the force, and we find security forces soldiers securing sports games instead of dealing with acute problems in society.

"In order to develop and exhaust the MGB as a national guard, it is necessary first of all to assign it the responsibility for core issues and the authority in them, and to remove these tasks from the Israel Police so that it is engaged in serving the citizen.

"Turning the MGB into a security body and separating it from the police will take at least two years. During this time, the volume of reservists must be increased significantly, so that they can provide an immediate response in their living space," Lankri concluded.

Ben Gvir's surroundings say that he is testing several models, which he will present soon.

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