From the Liveblog of
Monday, December 30, 2024
Police join Ben Gvir in lashing out at Smotrich amid budget feud
Sam Sokol is the Times of Israel's political correspondent. He was previously a reporter for the Jerusalem Post, Jewish Telegraphic Agency and Haaretz. He is the author of "Putin’s Hybrid War and the Jews"
Amid an ongoing political dispute between National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich over the budget, the Israel Police issue a statement attacking the Finance Ministry for allegedly harming law enforcement in general and the Yamam police counter-terrorism unit in particular.
“In a unilateral decision by the Finance Ministry, it was decided to freeze a budget that is intended to build a building for the Yamam, whose fighters are working tirelessly for the security of the State of Israel and its citizens,” the statement alleges, calling the decision unjustified.
Weighing in, National Security Minister Ben Gvir, whose ministry oversees the police, calls on Smotrich to “keep your hands off the police.”
In response, the Finance Ministry declares that it transferred funding for the project “a long time ago” but that the police chose not to advance the project, ostensibly because the commissioner decided to prioritize other issues.
“The attempt to present a false and contrary representation, while cynically exploiting the Yamam fighters, is regrettable and unnecessary,” the ministry says.
The Times of Israel Community.