Ben Gvir: Good luck to Eshed in leftist politics; Lapid retorts: A national disgrace

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir brushes off departing Tel Aviv police chief Amichai Eshed’s criticism, saying his statements today prove he was “a political officer.”

He wishes him “great success as a candidate for a left-wing party in the next election.”

Opposition leader Yair Lapid rails at the minister, saying Eshed “served for three decades under [various] governments, ministers and police chiefs and was never called political, never had his professionalism and dedication doubted.”

“I salute him and thank him on behalf of the Israeli people for his long nights of wakefulness to ensure citizens slept soundly,” Lapid says.

“Ben Gvir’s response makes clear that this is only the beginning. This is what the start of a dictatorship looks like, this is what loss of direction looks like. A national disgrace.”