Ben Gvir claims police chief wanted 4 ‘firefighting’ helicopters for personal use
Expected national security minister says extra powers needed to stop such extravagances, but documents indicate police chief, gov’t requisitioned Black Hawks to help tackle blazes
Michael Horovitz is a breaking news editor at The Times of Israel
Far-right Otzma Yehudit chair Itamar Ben Gvir claimed on Thursday that Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai requested four Black Hawk helicopters for personal use earlier this year, despite official documents apparently indicating that they were intended for firefighting.
Ben Gvir, who is set to be appointed to the role of national security minister raised the issue of the helicopters as an example of why new legislation should be passed that would give the minister broader powers at the expense of the police chief.
Speaking at a Knesset committee meeting set up to review the proposed bill, Ben Gvir said that under the new system, he would be able to stop such wasteful spending.
“The police commissioner desired helicopters also for his [personal] service,” the MK said at the Special Committee for Amending the Police Ordinance and claimed that he was aware of other examples of such requests.
However, documents published by Channel 12 news appeared to show that the helicopters were requested to help with firefighting efforts.
“As an aerial response to fires — four Black Hawk helicopters will be dedicated to the main force for aerial firefighting,” read a transcript from a National Security Council meeting on June 6.
In an additional meeting on August 10, Prime Minister Yair Lapid reportedly requested that government ministries work to acquire the helicopters for the sake of “Israel’s readiness for large blazes.”
Finally, in an undated handwritten note acquired by the network, Shabtai apparently called for the “strengthening of the aerial unit (the addition of four Black Hawk helicopters that will serve the Fire and Rescue services to extinguish blazes and the police to mobilize forces).”
Police officials also told Channel 12 that the aircraft are needed for the purposes of emergencies.
Earlier this week, Shabtai and Ben Gvir hotly debated the incoming coalition’s proposed changes at the special committee.
Critics have claimed the new law would destroy the police’s independence from political interference, although Ben Gvir has argued it is critical in order to enable the overseeing minister to assert his preferred policies over the police.
Jeremy Sharon contributed to this report.
