Israeli security experts divided by Ben-Gvir’s plan for a national guard

▶ Right wing figure’s project given go-ahead this month despite warnings from officials

Aformer commander in Israel’s elite Golani Brigade has told The National it is essential for his country to form a national guard, a divisive project led by National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Mr Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy on a number of issues, taking a hard line in favour of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.

Prof Gabi Siboni says the Israelis are late in creating such a force and that it would be crucial during conflicts with enemies, “in which the country could face extreme internal conditions”.

Despite fears among some in Israel’s security establishment that a national guard could become a “militia”, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month promised Mr Ben-Gvir that plans for the force would be brought before cabinet for approval.

The plans were given the goahead early this month despite warnings from police chief Kobi Shabtai that a national guard under Mr Ben-Gvir “could cause serious harm to the safety and security of Israeli citizens”.

But Prof Siboni believes history shows that such a force would make Israel safer.

“We had Arab riots in Israel during [military operation] Guardians of the Walls,” Prof Siboni said.

“We need these new forces to maintain order and ensure the safety of the Jewish people and also Arabs, who suffer from riots.”

Guardian of the Walls was a 2021 Israeli military operation launched after terror group Hamas fired missiles into Israel from its enclave, the Gaza Strip.

“In an actual full-scale conflict, the situation seen in 2021 could be magnified 100 times,” Prof Siboni said. “The police force in its current form would be unable to provide any such security. It is too small and already has many other missions to fulfil.

“We need a strong organisation based on reserves that would provide security in mixed cities, to allow our military to concentrate its forces on the borders.”

Some policing experts disagree. Merav Lapidot, a former chief spokeswoman for Israel’s police, told The National that a national guard would divert vital funds away from an overstretched force.

“The police currently lacks 2,000 officers and needs more money, not a new national guard with expensive new headquarters,” Ms Lapidot said.

“Creating a national guard without taking care of the police would severely damage capabilities to enforce the law and prevent terror attacks.”

Ms Lapidot also fears that the force could be politicised.

“We can assume Mr Ben-Gvir wants a private militia so he can address whatever he wants, whenever he wants,” she said.

“I’m not sure any western country has a private army for one minister. Syria and Iran, for example, have a private army only answerable to the government.”

Ms Lapidot is also concerned by the effect that a national guard would have on Israel’s Arab population.

“People’s trust is crucial for any government entity and even more so for the police,” Ms Lapidot said.

“A national guard along the lines currently being explored risks normalising selective enforcement. If that were to happen at the expense of Arabs, then trust is going to be further weakened.

“We have delicate, if you can call it that, relations with the Arab population and the police force.

“If they think they’re going to be the target of this national guard then it is going to be even worse.”

Prof Siboni said opponents of the move were incorrectly “contaminating their views with politics”.

“The fears are absolutely ridiculous,” he said.

“Those against the idea are not seeing the magnitude of the problem we face.

“Many liberal democratic states have a variety of security forces, such as Italy and Spain.

“This would not alienate Arabs. It would do the opposite. The first to suffer in such situations are the Arabs not involved in tensions.

“Peaceful populations are always terrified by the riots of a very active minority.”

Police chief Kobi Shabtai has warned a national guard under Mr Ben-Gvir ‘could cause serious harm to safety and security’