New police commissioner pick named as Roni Alsheich

The name of the nominee to take over Israel’s police force was cleared for publication Sunday, two days after the official, who currently serves as deputy head of the Shin Bet internal security service, was tapped for the position.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu allowed media outlets to publicize the name and pictures of Roni Alsheich, who had previously been known only as R because of the sensitive nature of his position.

His pick as the new police commissioner, after a months-long search for a new head of the troubled force, was announced Friday by Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan.

His appointment is pending the approval of the Turkel Commission, headed by former justice Jacob Turkel. The nomination came two days after former general Gal Hirsch was forced to withdraw his candidacy after the attorney general said it would take too long to clear up questions surrounding his personal business dealings.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved Erdan’s new pick early last week, according to the Israel Hayom daily, even before he and the public security minister announced they were dropping the nomination of Hirsch.

Alsheich reportedly turned down the offer once before, but changed his mind after Netanyahu told him he would not be considered to head the Shin Bet, according to the paper.

ויקרא שמו בישראל: המועמד רוני אלשייך pic.twitter.com/grdSw0qQgd

— Amichai Stein (@AmichaiStein1) September 27, 2015

Alsheich, 52, is married and a father of seven. He lived for many years in a settlement not far from Ramallah, but several years ago moved to a religious community in central Israel.

Alsheich did his military service in the Paratroopers Brigade and commanded the brigade’s engineering platoon. His successor in that role, coincidentally, was Hirsch, the man who was previously tapped as police chief.

In the late 1980s he joined the Shin Bet, where he served in several roles. He has been deputy chief of the organization for the past year, a role which includes filling in for the commander when the latter is away.

Reportedly nicknamed “The Fox” and considered a top performer in the intelligence agency, Alsheich was expected, until the announcement Friday, to be the top candidate to take over command of the Shin Bet after current chief Yoram Cohen steps down. Cohen will conclude a five-year term in May 2016.

According to Haaretz, now that competition to replace Cohen has become open, the previous deputy head of the organization, known by his initial N., may seek the role. Another option is that the Shin Bet will be headed by an individual from outside the organization. Among the external candidates are several former IDF generals.

Following Erdan’s nomination of Alsheich, the police’s southern district chief Yoram Halevy — once thought to be a leading contender for the job — was said to be considering retirement, along with Tel Aviv police chief Bentzy Sau, who has been acting commissioner since former head Yohanan Danino stepped down in July.

The police force has been riven by several scandals involving allegations of fraud and sexual abuse over the last years, and several people reportedly turned down offers to head the body.

On Friday Netanyahu called Alsheich “an accomplished and talented man, who has contributed greatly to Israel’s security and who will contribute greatly as chief of police.”

Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein has also given Alsheich key backing, saying there is no legal obstacle to his appointment.

The new nomination came two days after Erdan announced that he would rescind the nomination of Hirsch as the next Israel Police Commissioner.

Erdan said in a statement clarifying the decision that “Gal Hirsch is not suspected of anything and nobody has filed a complaint against him.”

Erdan had vehemently sought to appoint Hirsch, a former IDF officer and police outsider, as the next police chief, filling a gap in a police brass plagued with scandal. Senior police officers opposed an appointment from outside the force, and others also questioned Hirsch’s record during the 2006 Second Lebanon War.