National Security Ministry

Composite photo: Otzma Yehudit chairman Itamar Ben Gvir, left, during a faction meeting at the Knesset on November 21, 2022; Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara speaks at Tel Aviv University on September 28, 2022. (Flash90)

June 1, 2023, 12:28 am

AG pans law expanding Ben Gvir’s authority over police but doesn’t recommend repeal

Gali Baharav-Miara says coalition legislation may lead to politicization of law enforcement and cause harm to personal liberties, but stops short of suggesting law be stricken down

By ToI Staff

Illustrative: Israelis practice shooting handguns at the Olympic Shooting Range in Hertzliya, October 18, 2015. (Tomer Neuberg/ FLASH90/ File)

April 30, 2023, 10:05 pm

Ben Gvir moves to ease gun bureaucracy in bid to arm civilians against crime, terror

Recently discharged IDF troops, police officers, firefighters, active reservists will need only health declaration, police approval to carry arms

By ToI Staff

Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gvir arrives for a cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's Office in Jerusalem on April 2, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Pool)

April 2, 2023, 4:51 pm

Ministers approve Ben Gvir-led national guard, major budget cuts to fund it

After warnings by police chief and AG, several cabinet members express displeasure, yet vote in favor; Lapid decries measure handing far-right minister ‘a private militia’

By Michael Bachner

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir (L) and Israel Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai attend the inauguration of a new police station in southern Israel, March 14, 2023. (Flash90)

April 2, 2023, 1:30 pm

Police chief, attorney general sound alarm against forming Ben Gvir’s national guard

With ministers to vote on plan, Shabtai warns of ‘disastrous consequences’ of a competing force, Baharav-Miara stresses legal difficulties; all ministries to see cuts to pay for it

By Michael Bachner

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir in Jerusalem's Old City on the first Friday prayers of Ramadan, March 24, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

March 29, 2023, 11:00 pm

Cabinet vote Sunday on Ben Gvir bid for 2,000-strong national guard under his command

Far-right minister says force will target ‘lack of governance,’ terror, nationalistic and organized crime and illegal firearms; demonstrators protest plan; critics say it’s illegal

By Jeremy Sharon

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to onlookers at the scene of a terror attack in Jerusalem's Neve Yaakov neighborhood, on January 27, 2023. (Ahmad Gharabli/AFP)

March 29, 2023, 2:35 am

Ben Gvir reportedly set to detail plan for billion-shekel, 1,800-man national guard

Minister agrees with top cop on outline for force, which will reportedly focus on combating crime, amid confusion over body’s purpose and who will be in charge

By ToI Staff

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to police officials ahead of a protest against the government's planned judicial overhaul, outside the Knesset, February 20, 2023. (Arie Leib Abrams/Flash90)

March 19, 2023, 7:07 pm

Top court says police don’t take orders on protests from Ben Gvir, who slams ‘coup’

Ruling follows incidents in which far-right minister instructed police commanders on crowd dispersal methods, highways to be cleared

By Jeremy Sharon

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir visits members of the Yamam unit who were injured during an operation in Jenin, at the Rambam Hospital in Haifa, March 8, 2023. (Flash90)

March 9, 2023, 1:08 am

Five former police commissioners demand Netanyahu remove Ben Gvir from office

Ex-law enforcement chiefs say national security minister overstepping his legal authority, exploiting position for political gain

By ToI Staff

The cabinet votes to approve the 2023-2024 budget, in Jerusalem on February 24, 2023. (Courtesy)

February 24, 2023, 5:57 pm

Cabinet approves 2-year budget, including $2.4 billion boost for Ben Gvir’s ministry

Tourism minister boycotts vote over plan to end VAT tax exemption for tourists; PM’s plan for free education for kids under 3 not included, but ministers commit to advancing it

By ToI Staff

A man fires a pistol at an indoor shooting range during a qualification course in Katzrin in Golan Heights on January 31, 2023. (Jalaa Marey/AFP)

February 7, 2023, 8:29 pm

Gun permits said to spike since terror attack, Ben Gvir’s order to expedite process

Around five times as many weapons allowances than usual granted in past month as Nation Security Ministry fast-tracks applications

By ToI Staff

Deputy Attorney General Avital Sompolinsky speaks during a meeting of the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee on February 5, 2023. (Twitter screenshot; used in accordance with Clause 27a of the Copyright Law)

February 5, 2023, 5:07 pm

Deputy AG says judicial overhaul would render Israel a ‘very weak democracy’

Avital Sompolinsky tells Knesset panel coalition’s plan seeks to ‘almost completely cancel’ oversight; deputy AGs Limon and Marari slam push to subordinate police to government

By Michael Bachner

February 2, 2023, 1:27 pm

Ben Gvir announces plan to streamline gun license applications after terror attacks

National security minister says licensing department to get double the personnel and work longer hours, and security officers will no longer need to be interviewed

By Emanuel Fabian

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir speaks to reporters at Shaare Zedek hospital in Jerusalem on January 28, 2023. (Olivier Fitoussi/Flash90)

January 30, 2023, 4:51 pm

With his bogus attack on the attorney general, Ben Gvir is off to a furious start

The new national security minister is carrying on as he did in his rabble-rousing activist days, screaming and hurling insults instead of taking real steps to defeat terrorism

By Tal Schneider

(From L-R) Police commissioner Kobi Shabtai, National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and Shin Bet chief Ronen Bar. (Collage/Flash90)

January 20, 2023, 1:56 am

Security chiefs form task force to determine Shin Bet assistance in fighting crime

Ben Gvir meets with police, Shin Bet chiefs in effort to advance controversial plan to involve security agency in combatting rampant crime in Arab communities

By ToI Staff

Protesters clash with police after attending a demonstration against the Benjamin Netanyahu's government, in Tel Aviv, on January 14, 2023. (Yonatan Sindel/Flash90)

January 20, 2023, 1:04 am

Bill would curb protests, give police more tools to end them; Ben Gvir: Won’t happen

Ministries confirm still discussing proposals, from era of previous Netanyahu gov’t; would reportedly bar protests near leaders’ homes, let cops disperse them on flimsy grounds

By Michael Bachner