Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar has spoken to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and warned him that he is inciting violence in East Jerusalem, Channel 13 reports.
Ben Gvir, of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, is pushing for police to step up a campaign of house demolitions in East Jerusalem.
Bar tells Ben Gvir: Your actions are inciting and could cause a widespread escalation,” according to the report.
Bar says Ben Gvir’s actions are creating a feeling of “collective punishment.”
The report calls Bar’s decision to call Ben Gvir highly unusual.
Ben Gvir reportedly dismisses Bar’s warnings, responding: “We have tried your methods, they don’t bring security.”
Ben Gvir has vowed to take a more aggressive stance against Palestinian homes that were built without the necessary permits from Israel in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. He has framed demolition of such structures as part of Israel’s efforts to combat Palestinian terror, even though there have been no links between the owners of the homes razed for a lack of permit in recent weeks and security offenses.
Ben Gvir has also reportedly clashed with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Police chief Kobi Shabtai over the issue.
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