Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan announced his nomination for the next Chief of Israel Police, former IDF Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch. The appointment must be approved by the Turkel Committee and the cabinet, which is expected to be the case.

Hirsch, a highly decorated officer, resigned from the military after the Second Lebanon War after he came under fire for his conduct. His appointment came as a surprise to many, not to mention Acting Police Chief Bentzi Sau, who close friends signal will retire from the force when his tenure ends on September 1, 2015. There was much criticism heard from among the senior ranks of Israel Police in response to the appointment of an outsider. Petitions challenging his appointment are also likely to be filed with the High Court of Justice following the blemish to Hirsch’s record in the Second Lebanon War.

Hirsch, 51, was raised in Arad. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Mideast Studies from Bar Ilan University and a master’s degree in business administration from Tel Aviv University. He began his IDF career as a paratrooper and served in many prestigious command posts before resigning at the rank of brigadier-general. Many viewed Hirsch as a prime candidate to become a future IDF Chief of Staff prior to his decision to resign.

During the war Hirsch told the press he forces were in control of Bint Jbeil only to have eight soldiers fall in combat the very next day. The nation was split regarding the criticism leveled at Hirsch. Some felt he was being made the scapegoat for the failures of IDF Chief Dan Halutz and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, who both ultimately resigned as well. The two were viewed as colossal failures in their posts, with Peretz lacking a military past and Halutz the first-ever Chief of the IAF appointed as Chief of the General Staff. Based on his performance in the Second Lebanon War it was clear that Halutz’s experience in the air force exclusively left him ill prepared to lead the nation’s armed forces.

Supporters of Hirsch said the IDF chief and the defense minister placed the blame on his shoulders and he made the decision to resign in response.

In a brief statement to the press on Wednesday, 11 Elul, Erdan explained that in the past days and weeks he read many reports, including internal Israel Police reports which cited many alarming deficiencies in the force. This accompanied with the resignation of six deputy chiefs for alleged involvement in corruption and immoral activities led Erdan to select the department’s successor from outside the department. It is added that this appointment is not the first time a chief was appointment from outside the department.

Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu reportedly wanted to promote a deputy to the chief’s slot, taking someone from inside the force, but Erdan reportedly persuaded the prime minister to back his decision to tap the decorated retired senior IDF officer for the position. Erdan is confident that Hirsch is the man to rebuild the image of Israel Police, telling Kol Chai Radio that he hopes more chareidim will opt to join the police as a career. He explained that while he does not support everything the chareidi community does, he finds the community unique in its character and abilities and feels chareidi inductees could contribute greatly to changing the department for the better.

President Reuven Rivlin praises Hirsch’s appointment

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)