After a complete disconnect between them, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner RNZ Kobi Shabtai will meet tomorrow (Thursday), with the police commissioner arriving at the minister's office in the Ministry of National Security in Jerusalem at noon.
Ben-Gvir will inform the police commissioner of his decision whether to extend his term by another year or whether he has decided to end his term at the end of three years. In such a case, Chief Superintendent Shabtai will leave the police commissioner's office in January 2024.
Police Commissioner vs. Ben-Gvir: "Without legitimacy from the public, we have no right to exist as a police" // Photo: Yaniv Zohar
The rift and tension between the minister and the police commissioner, which was first reported by Israel Hayom, stems from a number of disagreements between them, including over the handling of crime in Arab society and their appointments at the top of the police. Another issue that creates tension between the two is the National Guard. Ben-Gvir very much wants to promote the establishment of the Guard, and in his view, Shabtai is working to torpedo its establishment.
If and when Ben-Gvir announces to the police commissioner that he has decided not to extend his term, the race for the next police commissioner will begin. The candidates from within the police are Hof District Commander Lt. Gen. Yoram Sofer, Jerusalem District Commander Lt. Gen. Doron Turgeman and Central District Commander Lt. Gen. Avi Biton. There is also a possibility that Ben-Gvir will be elected to the position of retired Commissioner.
Doron Turgeman, Yoram Sofer, Avshalom Peled, Avi Biton and Yoram Halevi. The race for police commissioner, photo: Oren Ben Hakon, Dudi Vaknin
As you may recall, about a week ago, and in the background of the disconnect between him and the minister, Shabtai thanked Ben-Gvir in a letter he distributed to the police officers about the increase in their salaries obtained within the budget.
In the letter, Police Commissioner Shabtai wrote that he was "pleased to announce a significant development in improving the conditions of service and wages in the Israel Police" and that he had worked to do so since the beginning of his inauguration.
The letter on the picture of the Minister and the Police Commissioner, photo: Dudu Greenspan
In the letter, Shabtai thanked the minister and his staff, and wrote that "within the framework of the state budget for 2024-2023, National Security Minister MK Itamar Ben-Gvir promoted an unprecedented move with the Ministry of Finance that led to a first-of-its-kind wage agreement that regulates the founding principles for implementing a designated increase in the salaries of police officers."
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