Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir appointed Amir Arzani, the officer responsible for allowing extremists to violate the Al-Aqsa Mosque, as the police chief in Jerusalem. Meanwhile, the chief investigator into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s corruption allegations resigned from the police following the new appointments announced by Ben-Gvir on Thursday.
Yesterday, the Israeli police announced a series of new appointments approved by Ben Gvir after a recommendation from its Inspector General, Danny Levy, and said that Brigadier General Amir Arzani will be appointed as commander of the Jerusalem Police, and will be promoted to the rank of Major General.
Haaretz explained that Arzani was serving as acting Jerusalem police chief, but his appointment has now become permanent. His appointment was considered “a very sensitive matter in light of his role in changing the status quo in the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound, and these changes led to clashes with Muslim worshippers and international condemnations.”
“Since last month, the police have been allowing Jewish visitors, on orders from Arzani and Ben-Gvir, to pray out loud, sing and give Torah lessons. In the past, visitors who did any of the above would be arrested and banned from visiting the site again,” she added.
She noted that among the other appointments announced on Thursday was the appointment of Brigadier General Moshe Benshi – Ben Gvir’s security secretary – as head of the West Bank police district, replacing Brigadier General Uzi Levy, who announced his retirement on the same day. She said that the appointment of Benshi to his new position “will give Ben Gvir complete control over the police in the West Bank.”
For its part, Israeli Channel 12 said today that Koresh Barnor, the chief investigator into Benjamin Netanyahu on corruption charges, resigned from the police following the new appointments announced by Ben Gvir yesterday.
She stated that Bernour “was the head of the investigation team in Cases 1000 and 2000, in which Netanyahu is accused of corruption, and during the investigations into Netanyahu, Bernour led the fraud investigation unit.”
It is worth noting that Netanyahu’s first trial session was held on May 24, 2020, after an indictment was filed by former Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, following police investigations into Netanyahu that included bribery, fraud and breach of trust. The court is still considering the case against Netanyahu.
Source : Israeli press + Anadolu Agency
