National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir arrived at the Tel Aviv Police Headquarters this evening (Saturday night) to closely monitor the police's conduct towards protesters protesting against the reform to strengthen democracy.
""I come here in the framework of my role as Minister of National Security, this is my job and just like Omer Bar Lev before me and Amir Ohana before him and Gilad Erdan before him and all the ministers of public security came, I come here to implement my policy," said Ben Gvir. "I have no intention of apologizing to anyone, certainly not to the anarchists who seek to set the state of Tel Aviv on fire.".
He added: "I explain it unequivocally - freedom of expression is sacred to me, important to me, those who come here and want to exercise freedom of expression, we will do everything to allow them to do so. But those who throw fences at police officers, who beat, who attack, who want to block major transportation arteries, who want to disrupt traffic in Tel Aviv, who want to prevent a woman giving birth from reaching a hospital, who want to prevent people from returning home - they will not be allowed to.".
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""This is my policy, this is my order, the Commissioner is implementing this policy and I must say about the Commissioner, I have great respect for him. I saw him last week in real time, how he acts and prevents these anarchists from disrupting order, and I told him to stay strong.".
The minister emphasized: "This is my expectation here from everyone, I spoke here with the honorable district commander and told him this explicitly. He agreed and understood. This is the policy, not to allow the blocking of major transportation arteries. We have an obligation to the citizens of Israel, we have an obligation to the residents of Tel Aviv, to people who want to return home, to people who want to leave the house, and the police will fulfill this obligation.".
""This is the policy and I say again, freedom of expression, hello and goodbye, let them shout as much as they want, of course without incitement. But whoever incites, whoever slanders, whoever blocks major transportation arteries, whoever attacks police officers, should be dealt with to the full extent of the law, that's what I told the police.".
""Right now, things are going perfectly fine, as you can see. They are shouting, let them keep shouting, but I will not tolerate any harm to a policeman, any harm to a policewoman, any harm to a fighter. You need to understand something else: I saw the investigation by the Police Department into that officer in Tel Aviv. This is an investigation that is designed for one thing, to deter and intimidate the police, to make them not do their job, and therefore I support the police, stand behind them and tell them: You are our messengers, you are the police who are here to maintain public order and I support them.
""By the way, I didn't see the National Security Agency rushing to do anything, not in the Ahuvia Sandak case, not in other cases, and so I think that the idea of elements in the National Security Agency is to deter the police, and so I say to the police: I am here, the Minister of National Security, I am strengthening you, giving you my back, our dear police officers and fighters, we stand behind you and you will continue in this important mission of maintaining public order, this is my agenda and perception.".
""Good luck to all the police officers who are now in the field and doing sacred work. We must remember, we are in weeks when terrorism is increasing, terrorism is trying to raise its head, and therefore the mission of the police officers and fighters is to prevent terrorist incidents.".
""And a final word, left, right, religious and secular, in the end we are one people and we must remember that the terrorist who looks out the window does not distinguish between right and left, between religious and secular, and therefore I say to everyone: Our strength is in our unity. Yes, there is a sharp disagreement, and I am a clear supporter of legal reform, but I say to everyone, even to those who shout: Shout, you are allowed, but remember that we are one people. Do not stir up the disputes and this is what I also say to the leaders, to Yair Lapid and Benny Gantz, take responsibility. Freedom of expression is yes, to incite and incite, that is not.".
He said, "What happened with Sara Netanyahu, in my opinion, is terrible that a prime minister's wife goes to get a haircut and they try to lynch her. The police poured in there in large numbers and eventually took her out, but it's a sign of poverty that anarchists want to harm the prime minister's wife.".
The chairman of the state camp, MK Benny Gantz, responded: "Netanyahu - don't let Ben Gvir play politics on the backs of the police. The whole purpose of Ben Gvir's arrival at the police headquarters tonight is political interference in the professional work of the police. I call on the commissioner and the police to act according to their professional judgment and not according to improper political pressures.".
