Ministers vote to approve establishment of Ben Gvir’s ‘national guard’

2 April 2023, 5:13 pm

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National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (second from left) in the Traffic Police's National Control Center with Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai (left) on March 9, amid nationwide protests against the government's judicial overhaul program. (Courtesy National Security Ministry)

Cabinet ministers vote in favor of establishing a “national guard” in Israel, meeting a key demand of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The Prime Minister’s Office says that the “powers and subordinations” of the body will be decided by a committee of relevant security officials, who will issue a recommendation within 90 days. The committee will be the one to decide if the national guard will be under the purview of the Israel Police or “another body,” the PMO adds.

The cabinet approval comes after cabinet ministers voted earlier today to approve a major budget cut across ministries in order to fund the establishment of a national guard, said to cost NIS 1 billion.

Though such an idea was first floated in the last government, current opposition figures have decried handing further power to Ben Gvir, calling the future body his “private militia.”