Former Shin Bet chief says political dissent 'translates to violence'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Israeli media
24 Feb 2023 16:18
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The former Shin Bet chief says the internal Israeli divisions will only grow, holding the incumbent Prime Minister responsible for the ensuing violence.

Israelis protest the plans of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's new government to overhaul the judicial system, in "Tel Aviv", occupied Palestine, February 4, 2023 (AP)

In an interview for Israeli media about the judicial reforms being advanced by the Israeli occupation government, the former Shin Bet chief Ami Ayalon admitted that "the energy is at a level that I don't remember it ever getting to" and that this is a cause for concern.

Ayalon argued, "Therefore, with this kind of energy, when people reach a reality where they have no other way to stop what they see as the destruction of all the things they live for, I think we should be afraid of people who will translate this into violence."

The former chief said the reforms, which he considered the cause for the destruction, are an attempt to keep "Benjamin Netanyahu out of prison."

In that regard, Ayalon claimed that "they must understand that in order to keep the prime minister out of prison they are destroying everything that is happening here," adding, "The protest will not stop - it will continue and escalate."

The big picture

Political divisions in "Israel" between the government and the opposition are escalating in light of the exchange of accusations of responsibility for the possible outbreak of an "internal war", as "Israel" is witnessing demonstrations held by thousands of settlers against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu.

This comes shortly after leaders within the Israeli occupation spoke about the ongoing division in "Israel" exposed by the results of the latest legislative elections.

Israeli occupation President Isaac Herzog said during a speech on the 27th anniversary of the killing of former Israeli occupation Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin that "the complicated political status quo in Israel poses somewhat of a historic challenge for us."

Meanwhile, former Israeli occupation Security Minister Benny Gantz called Israeli settlers to take to the streets in protest of changes to the Israeli "judicial" system that Benjamin Netanyahu's government proposed.

The demonstrators repeated chants against the new Israeli occupation government and some of its extremist ministers, such as Police Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Betzalel Smotrich, as per Israeli media.

Following his November 1 election win, Netanyahu took office late last month at the head of a coalition with Haganah-minded parties, some of whose officials now head key ministries. The new occupation government has announced intentions to pursue a policy of settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank.