"The termination of the commissioner's term may undermine future abduction deal efforts, since the best senior officers who are supposed to manage future operations in the IPS may retire with the commissioner," Israel Prison Service officials said on Wednesday.
Security forces near Gilboa Prison after the escape of the six security prisoners // Gil Eliyahu
The sources argue that terminating at this time means giving up Perry and other senior officers' extensive experience in working with the Red Cross on prisoner exchanges and the preparations involved. "To parachute someone out of the organization at this time is grossly irresponsible," the IPS said.
Gilboa Prison, Photo: Gil Eliyahu / Ginny
It should be emphasized that the prisoners' outline is entrusted to the deputy commissioner, who also serves as head of the operations division, head of the prisoners' division, and head of the intelligence division in the service. These are three officials who may resign if Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir's proposal to replace the commissioner is accepted. "Their remaining in office at this time is critical due to their many years of experience in the IPS in general and in the prison profession in particular," the organization said.
In addition, senior IPS officials express surprise at Ben-Gvir's intention to "parachute" Perry out of the organization. In this regard, it was claimed that this was a vote of no confidence on the part of the minister in Deputy Commissioner Gondar Moni Bitan, who is considered a leading candidate for the position of commissioner, due to his many years of experience. "Suppose the minister doesn't get along with the commissioner, why not appoint her deputy as acting commissioner?" the IPS asks, stressing that the Gilboa Committee, which examined the escape of the six terrorists from prison about a year ago, did not rule out his possible candidacy.
The IPS rejects Ben-Gvir's accusations against the commissioner, claiming that, contrary to his statement, the one who does not implement the Gilboa Commission's recommendations is the minister himself, who refrained from dealing with the recommendations placed on his desk. Regarding the claim about negotiating with security prisoners, sources familiar with the matter claim that the minister does not understand the role of the IPS and the role of the Israel Security Agency in the matter: "Dealing correctly with the security prisoners so that the IDF can wage war in Judea and Samaria is no small matter, and the claim shows the minister's ignorance on the subject."
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