Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy after taking a hard line in favour of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy after taking a hard line in favour of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy after taking a hard line in favour of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Reuters
Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has stirred controversy after taking a hard line in favour of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank. Reuters

Israeli security experts divided by right winger's controversial 'national guard' plan


Thomas Helm
  • English
  • Arabic

A former commander in Israel’s elite Golani Brigade has told The National it is essential that his country forms a national guard, a divisive project led by Israeli 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 Israeli-occupied West Bank.

Professor Gabi Siboni says that Israel is “late in creating” such a force, and that it would be crucial during “conflicts with Israel’s 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 in March promised Mr Ben-Gvir that plans for the force would be brought before cabinet for approval.

Israeli Minister of Security Itamar Ben Gvir attending a far-right rally near the illegal outpost of Evyatar in the occupied West Bank last Monday. EPA
Israeli Minister of Security Itamar Ben Gvir attending a far-right rally near the illegal outpost of Evyatar in the occupied West Bank last Monday. EPA

The plans were given the go-ahead in early April despite warnings from Israeli police chief Kobi Shabtai that a national guard subordinate to 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. We need these new forces to maintain order and ensure the safety of the Jewish people and also Arabs, who suffer from riots,” Prof Siboni said.

Guardian of the Walls was a 2021 Israeli military operation launched after terror group Hamas launched 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. 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,” Prof Siboni said.

“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,” he added.

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 police force.

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

Private militia fear

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

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,” she added.

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

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

“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.”

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

“The fears are absolutely ridiculous. Those against the idea are not seeing the magnitude of the problem we face,” Prof Siboni added.

He says that “many liberal democratic states have a variety of security forces, such as Italy and Spain”.

“This would not alienate Arabs,” Prof Siboni said.

“It would do the opposite. The first to suffer in such situation are the Arabs not involved in tensions. Peaceful populations are always terrified by the riots of a very active minority," he said.

Know before you go
  • Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
  • If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
  • By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
  • Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
  • Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.

 

Key facilities
  • Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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  • NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

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Name: Dhabia Khalifa AlQubaisi

Age: 23

How she spends spare time: Playing with cats at the clinic and feeding them

Inspiration: My father. He’s a hard working man who has been through a lot to provide us with everything we need

Favourite book: Attitude, emotions and the psychology of cats by Dr Nicholes Dodman

Favourit film: 101 Dalmatians - it remind me of my childhood and began my love of dogs 

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BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES

Friday (all kick-offs UAE time)

Hertha Berlin v Union Berlin (10.30pm)

Saturday

Freiburg v Werder Bremen (5.30pm)

Paderborn v Hoffenheim (5.30pm)

Wolfsburg v Borussia Dortmund (5.30pm)

Borussia Monchengladbach v Bayer Leverkusen (5.30pm)

Bayern Munich v Eintracht Frankfurt (5.30pm)

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Schalke v Augsburg (3.30pm)

Mainz v RB Leipzig (5.30pm)

Cologne v Fortuna Dusseldorf (8pm)

 

 

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Non-oil%20trade
%3Cp%3ENon-oil%20trade%20between%20the%20UAE%20and%20Japan%20grew%20by%2034%20per%20cent%20over%20the%20past%20two%20years%2C%20according%20to%20data%20from%20the%20Federal%20Competitiveness%20and%20Statistics%20Centre.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EIn%2010%20years%2C%20it%20has%20reached%20a%20total%20of%20Dh524.4%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ECars%20topped%20the%20list%20of%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20re-exported%20to%20Japan%20in%202022%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh1.3%20billion.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3EJewellery%20and%20ornaments%20amounted%20to%20Dh150%20million%20while%20precious%20metal%20scraps%20amounted%20to%20Dh105%20million.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ERaw%20aluminium%20was%20ranked%20first%20among%20the%20top%20five%20commodities%20exported%20to%20Japan.%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3ETop%20of%20the%20list%20of%20commodities%20imported%20from%20Japan%20in%202022%20was%20cars%2C%20with%20a%20value%20of%20Dh20.08%20billion.%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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Uefa Champions League, Group B
Barcelona v Inter Milan
Camp Nou, Barcelona
Wednesday, 11pm (UAE)

UPI facts

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Batti Gul Meter Chalu

Producers: KRTI Productions, T-Series
Director: Sree Narayan Singh
Cast: Shahid Kapoor, Shraddha Kapoor, Divyenndu Sharma, Yami Gautam
Rating: 2/5

Company profile

Company: Eighty6 

Date started: October 2021 

Founders: Abdul Kader Saadi and Anwar Nusseibeh 

Based: Dubai, UAE 

Sector: Hospitality 

Size: 25 employees 

Funding stage: Pre-series A 

Investment: $1 million 

Investors: Seed funding, angel investors  

Five expert hiking tips
    Always check the weather forecast before setting off Make sure you have plenty of water Set off early to avoid sudden weather changes in the afternoon Wear appropriate clothing and footwear Take your litter home with you

SM Town Live is on Friday, April 6 at Autism Rocks Arena, Dubai. Tickets are Dh375 at www.platinumlist.net

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ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

Updated: April 16, 2023, 11:38 AM`