The murky relationship between the Minister of National Security and Police Commissioner Rabbi Yaakov Shabtai is reaching its final stretch. After Israel Hayom first reported Ben-Gvir's intention not to extend the term of the police commissioner for another year, Ben-Gvir and the police commissioner are expected to meet tomorrow for a private conversation.
At the meeting, the two are expected to formally summarize their joint work in the coming months until Shabtai retires, with the race to appoint a new police commissioner already underway. "The intention is to pass the baton in an orderly manner," say those close to Ben-Gvir.
About ten days ago, Israel Hayom exposed Ben-Gvir's decision not to extend the police commissioner's term for another year, while the police commissioner was nursing his relative in a hospital in Germany.
Police Commissioner vs. Ben-Gvir: "Without legitimacy from the public, we have no right to exist as a police" // Yaniv Zohar
The timing of the announcement caused a storm, but the picture was quite clear to both sides following a conversation they had held a few days earlier, on the 8th, in which Ben-Gvir refused to accept Shabtai's recommendation to appoint the commander of the Border Police to command the Tel Aviv district.
Exchange of accusations
Ben-Gvir even accused the police commissioner of trying to appoint extras to senior positions according to membership rather than professional affiliation, and of failing to deal with crime in the Arab sector. It should be emphasized that Shabtai and Ben-Gvir disagree on almost every issue, as well as on the structure and subordination of the future National Guard when it is established.
Minister Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai. The smiles couldn't hide the truth (archive), photo: Oren Ben Hakon
Shabtai left the meeting hurt and on the same day, in a conversation with police extras, he strongly attacked Ben-Gvir.
In the conversation, Shabtai attacked, saying, among other things, that Ben-Gvir did not obtain a NIS 9 billion budget for the police, as he claimed, that the salaries of police officers would not increase, and that foreign elements were trying to influence appointments at the top of the organization. The next day, Shabtai and his associates made sure to leak the details of the conversation to the media, just before his flight to Germany to accompany one of his family members for surgery.
Police Commissioner Shabtai: "I do not intend to continue for a fourth year under these conditions" // Police Spokesperson's Office
However, during his stay, Israel Hayom revealed that Ben-Gvir had already decided not to extend the police commissioner's term.
Who will blink first
Upon his return to Israel, the "tricks" and "shticks" between the two continued even more intensely. Shabtai ordered his people to stop issuing joint statements with the minister and postponed a private meeting scheduled for Sunday, in which the minister intended to formally inform him of his decision.
Instead, Shabtai took advantage of a meeting with Arab mayors and councils, and in his address to them, responded to the publication of the minister's decision by saying, "It's no secret that I don't intend to continue for a fourth year under these conditions," in order to make it clear that the initiative not to extend his term is his and not the minister's.
Itamar Ben-Gvir (Archive). Accused the police commissioner of failing to deal with crime in the Arab sector, photo: Jonathan Zindel/Flash90
Those close to Ben-Gvir raised eyebrows claiming that it was the police commissioner who asked the minister two months ago to extend his term by another year. Following the publication of the statement, Ben-Gvir decided to change tactics, and instead of attacking the police commissioner back, he chose to take a state route, congratulating Shabtai and thanking him for ending his position.
Tomorrow, as stated, the two are expected to meet privately, a meeting that could have implications for the commissioner's continued work in the coming months as the race for commissioner opens while he is still in office.
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