Protesters heckle Ben Gvir at police Independence Day toast
National security minister says that even amid internal disputes, ‘we are all brothers;’ demonstrators proclaim role of police minister is too much for him
Around 100 anti-government protesters demonstrated against National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir as he participated in a ceremony at police’s national headquarters in Jerusalem.
The protesters, from the Brothers in Arms organization of IDF reservists, along with a forum led by former police commissioners, chanted against Ben Gvir and waved banners proclaiming that the role of police minister “is too much for you.”
Inside the police compound, where a toast was held outdoors ahead of Israel’s 75th Independence Day next week, the ruckus from the demonstration was audible to participants.
“Even amid internal disputes, we are brothers,” Ben Gvir said in acknowledgment of the noise. “Even those who shout outside are our brothers.”
During the ceremony, promotions were also handed out to some senior commanders.
Former police chiefs are usually invited to the ceremony but this year they were not, Walla reported. Some former police commissioners have leveled criticism against current Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai for his cooperation with Ben Gvir. Dozens of former chiefs and police commanders have also lobbied Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against Ben Gvir. Police sources said the absence of invites was an oversight and apologized, according to the report.
Brothers in Arms said in a statement that police “are doing the best they can to keep the citizens of Israel safe even in this crazy time, and in the run-up to the upcoming Independence Day, they deserve all the credit for that. However, Ben Gvir promised personal security and receives a score of zero on his election promise, while deepening the rift in the nation and deteriorating the security of the citizens. It’s just too much for him.”
There have been mass protests since January against the government’s planned drastic overhaul of the judiciary.
The far-right Ben Gvir, as national security minister, has repeatedly involved himself directly in the policing of the massive demonstrations against the government’s judicial overhaul program, including telling the police which highways to make sure are left open during the protests, discussing the methods of crowd dispersal, and visiting police command centers while demonstrations were underway. He has reportedly had a frosty relationship with Shabtai since being appointed minister.
The two are also divided over Ben Gvir’s demands to form a volunteer national guard that would be directly under his orders.
Earlier this month Shabtai warned that not placing the proposed national guard under police control would disintegrate the police force.
