Top cop’s daughter gets police Arabic media monitoring job; she doesn’t speak Arabic
Senior officers reportedly express shock over Ya’ar Shabtai’s hiring; police defend decision, saying she was chosen ‘due to her skills and suitability’
Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai’s daughter has been appointed to an Arabic media monitoring job within the force, reportedly raising eyebrows among senior officers because she does not speak the language.
Ya’ar Shabtai, 27, has held a number of positions within the police since enlisting seven years ago and rising to the rank of inspector.
In May, she was appointed spokesperson within the Northern District but only lasted three months before returning to her old department in the central town of Hadera.
When the position opened for an Arabic media monitor, Shabtai submitted her candidacy and was given the job, as no one else applied, Channel 12 reported on Tuesday.
The network said the hire surprised a number of unnamed senior police officers who expressed their bewilderment over how Shabtai would be able to do the job without speaking any Arabic.
In a statement issued to Channel 12, the Israel Police defended Shabtai’s appointment, calling her an integral part of the force’s online presence.
“The officer was chosen for the position due to her skills and suitability,” the statement added.
Kobi Shabtai has come under fire in recent months over the police’s inability to clamp down on the record-breaking crime wave plaguing Arab communities.
He has also sparred with National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who reportedly leaked a recording of Shabtai saying that it is in Arabs’ “nature” to murder.
