The cabinet will extend the term of acting Israel Police Chief Bentzi Sau, who was going to step down on September 1st. Sau is expected to continue at least until mid-October. The cabinet decided to extend Sau’s term until October 14th or until a new chief is appointed.
On Sunday 15 Elul, Public Security Minister Gilad Erdan consulted with Attorney General Yehuda Weinstein as it appears challenges to the appointment of retired IDF Brigadier-General Gal Hirsch will delay his assuming the post. Among the objections to the appointment of Hirsch is the fact that he is an outsider. A number of former Israel Police chiefs and senior commanders are demanding the department’s next chief comes from inside the department.
In addition, a number of bereaved parents who sons fell in the Second Lebanon War feel Hirsch should not be appointed as he was blamed for some of the failures in that war. A number of former senior IDF commanders are among those opposing his appointment. It is added that there are also bereaved parents and former senior IDF commanders who feel Hirsch is more than qualified for the post.
The Turkel Committee that must approve the appointment along with the cabinet is expected to convene later this week.
Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu at a cabinet meeting on Monday, 16 Elul commented “Hirsch is the right man in the right place” for the job.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)