Israel Police TA District commander to stay after AG steps in

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara instructed the government on Friday to freeze the process of removing Israel Police Tel Aviv District Commander Ami Eshed from his position, saying the legality of it is not guaranteed.

The National Security Ministry and the Israel Police announced in a joint statement on Thursday evening that Eshed will be removed from his position and demoted to a lower position.

The decision was taken by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, according to the recommendation of police chief Kobi Shabtai and came as part of a round of new appointments in the police, according to the statement.

Shabtai later claimed that the timing was entirely Ben-Gvir's decision and said that Eshed will remain in his post for now because Baharav-Miara's decision was binding.

Ben-Gvir's office answered accusations that Eshed's appointment was a demotion, by stating that "this is a pre-planned round of appointments and not an impeachment."

However, hours earlier Ben-Gvir reportedly said that he was unhappy with what he claimed was a soft response to Thursday's protests, and that he "intended to do something about it," indicating that the move was very likely a reaction to Eshed's conduct.

Reactions by the opposition

Reports about the appointment were published while protests were still ongoing across the country.

"There has not been such disgrace in the history of the country. The Tiktok clown [Ben-Gvir] fires an outstanding police officer because there is not enough blood and violence on the streets," opposition leader Yair Lapid stated in reaction to the appointment.

Leader of the National Unity Party MK Benny Gantz said, "While thousands of police officers are in the field, Minister Ben Gvir is carrying out a political purge of their commander. The police officers led by the [police] commissioner are doing exactly what they are obligated to do - to act independently and not accept political instructions in the face of a political protest." Gantz called on netanyahu to fire ben-Gvir immediately, before the national security minister "takes apart the police and the rule of law."

Labor party leader MK Merav Michaeli stated in response, "Utter insanity. The Tel Aviv police commander did everything to maintain public security while allowing the most important protest in Israel's  history while Ben Gvir tells the media he is 'disappointed in the police' and pushes the commissioner to sack him. This anarchist wants to see the blood of the protestors spilled on the streets. Once a terrorist, still a terrorist. We will not let him win."

Yisrael Beytenu said, "It is interesting that the Tel Aviv police commander was removed from his position because he "did not meet the policy '' of Ben-Gvir and accepted the event today. In contrast, just two days ago the cabinet and other ministers accepted rocket fire on Israel without any response, and no one there was removed. The priorities are backwards."

On Friday, the Police Chief Forum condemned Shabtai's involvement in the removal of Eshed and called on him to resign.

"We, a group of former commissioners and superintendents, were hit with amazement at the decision of the minister to remove Tel Aviv District Commander Ami Eshed considering his success at managing nine weeks of many largescale protests with wisdim and consideration while allowing the right to protest," they wrote in a joint statement. "Our surprise went and became stronger when we discovered that this move was being sponsored by a ridiculous cover of a round of appointments."

To Shabtai, they said that he had "cooperated with a convicted criminal to turn the police into a private militia in order to satisfy the whims of the appointed minister and was involved in the removal of a commander with a spine."

The Movement for Quality Government in Israel said that it would file already on Thursday an appeal to the High Court to put out a temporary order to prevent the move,  calling the removal of Eshed a "disgraceful act"  and saying that it would "not let the police turn into Ben-Gvir's private army." Moments later, a forum of retired police commissioners said that they would join the movement's appeal.