Ben-Gvir gets National Guard in exchange for support of judicial reform delay

The government will approve at its next meeting on Sunday a decision to subjugate Israel's National Guard to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, in exchange for Ben-Gvir's party, Otzma Yehudit, promising not to leave the government over Netanyahu's intention to postpone the legislation of the first judicial reform bill.

The National Guard is currently a unit within the Border Police, and was formed during the previous government's tenure in the wake of the rioting during Operation Guardian of the Walls. Its purpose is to provide security in similar situations in the future. It numbers approximately 900 regular fighters, and thousands more reservists and volunteers.

Netanyahu also promised that if agreements over the judicial reform were not reached during the Passover recess, the reform would pass during the next Knesset term, Ben-Gvir said.

Ben-Gvir on Monday reportedly threatened to quit the government if Netanyahu decided to freeze the legislation until after the Knesset recess between April 2-30.

The coalition announced last week that the first bill, which would give the coalition a majority in Israel's Judicial Appointments Committee, would pass before the Knesset recesses.

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said on Saturday night that the bill's passing could lead to widespread refusal to show up for voluntary reserve duty, especially amongst pilots in the Israel Air Force. This constitutes a "real and concrete" danger to Israel's security, Gallant warned.

Netanyahu on Sunday evening announced that he was removing Gallant from his position. The move sparked spontaneous protests in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa and other locations, and led on Monday to a general strike amongst Israel's largest union, business sector, hi-tech sector and more.

Former Israel Police Commissioner Moshe Karadi reacted to the agreement in a press conference by the Commanders for Israel's Security, which was convened in order to discuss the judicial reforms.

"Ben-Gvir formed a private militia for his political purposes. He is dismantling Israeli democracy, summoning whoever does not bend to his will, and endangering Israel's security." 

The Association for Civil Rights in Israel said in response, "We already saw what happened when Ben-Gvir wanted to suppress the protests, now one can only imagine what will happen when he has his own militias.

"It is important to understand – the "National Guard" that Netanyahu promised is a private armed militia that will answer directly to Ben-Gvir.

"This is a police unit intended first and foremost to act in mixed cities, first and foremost against the Arab population. Such power in Ben-Gvir's hands = certain violation of Arabs' rights. Advancing such a proposal will also enable him to use these forces against the protests and demonstrators.

"This is a new and dangerous addition to the coup d'etat that we are witnessing. As if it is not enough to act against the judicial system, now we see operative steps to take authorities from the police and turn them into Ben-Gvir's Revolutionary Guards," the association said.