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The Times of "Israel" reported that six former Israeli occupation police chiefs and 42 deputy police commissioners have urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to oust Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from his position, warning that the latter constitutes "a tangible and immediate danger to the security" of "Israel".

In a letter to Netanyahu, the former police chiefs and deputy commissioners warned against the "impending collapse of the Israel Police," pointing out that Ben-Gvir was a "central part" of the problems afflicting the police, as per the Ynet news website.

According to Ynet, the signatories include former police chiefs Yohanan Danino, Dudi Cohen, Moshe Karadi, Shlomo Aharonishki, Asaf Hefetz, and Rafi Peled.

The Israeli news website mentioned that the signatories requested a meeting with Netanyahu, without the presence of Ben-Gvir to "present proposals that would strengthen the police force" and "expand … on the factors that led to this situation."

The Times of "Israel" highlighted that since Netanyahu's coalition took power six months ago, Ben-Gvir has frequently and openly disputed with Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai.

It added that since taking office, Ben-Gvir has sought to exert greater direct influence over police operations and personnel, including an attempt to oust the "Tel Aviv" police chief, steps that opponents believe undermine the police's independence.

Earlier this week, Israeli media reported that Shabtai told a Knesset committee that his force was unprepared for a "multi-front" outbreak of security events that "Israel" witnessed in conjunction with its aggression against Gaza in 2021, pointing to a lack of "manpower, resources, means and equipment."

On his part, former Israeli occupation police chief Moshe Karadi told Channel 13 on Thursday night, that he has "never heard a minister [Ben-Gvir] speak so much nonsense in such a short time," referring to Israeli occupation Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

"The Shin Bet will not reveal what it knows when Ben Gvir is present in the room," Karadi stressed.

The former police chief considered that the police's agenda should include the replacement of Ben-Gvir and the appointment of "a sober minister with ability, who doesn’t bother with slogans, but with work."

Karadi indicated that the police force needs a substantial restructuring and a comprehensive situational evaluation.

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