At a farewell ceremony for outgoing Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai, President Isaac Herzog urges the law enforcement body to remain apolitical.
“We are in the middle of a challenging and complicated period, which places on you and on all police officers an enormous responsibility,” Herzog says in his comments to the officers gathered there, according to his office.
“It is important to me to clarify and emphasize: the police force does not belong and will not belong to any one person. The police is not tied to any political side,” he adds. “The police must belong to all of us… I ask and call on all political officials — leave the police outside of politics.”
Shabtai is leaving office during a turbulent period in which he clashed repeatedly and publicly with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who has been accused of trying to politicize the police force and assert greater control over its activities.
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