by Hillel Fendel
It appears that the new Netanyahu government – "full-steam to the right," he has called it – is actually likely to be sworn in by next week (Hanukah), or immediately afterwards.
The new coalition took a major step this morning (Tuesday) by choosing a new Knesset Speaker, Likud MK Yariv Levine, who held the post in the previous Likud-led government. His Speakership will be temporary, however, as he will likely be named as Justice Minister in the new government; his replacement as Speaker is not yet known for certain.
Later in the day, the new Ministerial Committee for Legislation – that which prepares government bills and determines the government's stance on private bills – was to convene to discuss, inter alia, a bill enabling Shas Party head Aryeh Deri to serve as a government minister (despite the probationary incarceration to which he was sentenced). It was also to favorably consider a bill that will define the authorities of the new minister in the Defense Ministry. This last position was created for the Religious-Zionist party of Betzalel Smotrich, in lieu of appointing him Defense Minister.
In the meantime, Itamar Ben-Gvir, the candidate for National Security Minister (formerly the Police Minister), insists that the Police Commissioner be allowed to set policy only with his own consent. Smotrich – Ben-Gvir's political ally, though the two head separate parties – agrees with this demand. "That the police must be subservient to the Minister is absolutely just," Smotrich said today.
For some reason, however, a new law must be passed to this effect. "Ben-Gvir's demand is obvious and makes sense," said Smotrich. "What is not proper is not his demand, but the fact that this was not the policy until now." He explained:
"The Israel Police is the body with the most authorities and potential to harm civil rights, and has one of the most important functions in our democracy: safeguarding personal safety and public order. That such an important and strong body is not subservient to the democratic framework and to the nation it is supposed to serve, and is not under effective supervision, and acts essentially like a state within a state – is a dangerous democratic distortion."
It may be noted that the Police Commissioner in New York, for instance, may be fired by either the Governor of New York State or the Mayor of New York City. This is not the case, however, in American cities categorized as "second-class."
"Just like in the IDF," Smotrich continued, "which is under the authority of the government and the Defense Minister, the same must be the case for the police. The political leadership has the confidence of the public, and it bears the responsibility towards the public for the successes and failures of the police – and must also set the policies, the priorities, and the manner in which its budget is allocated for the various police missions. There can be no responsibility without authority."
"I am confident," Smotrich concluded, "that Itamar [Ben-Gvir] will set a professional and responsible policy, and I wish him great success in this important and difficult mission that he has taken upon himself: to restore personal security to the citizens of Israel."
Ben-Gvir is so insistent about this that he has reportedly threatened not to sign a coalition agreement if he is not given veto rights over the Ministerial Committee for Legislation. If the report is true, his strategy is apparently to hold up various bills if his own demand for authority over the Police Commissioner is not met. Senior Likud sources are reported to have reacted by telling Ben-Gvir to "grow up" and realize that coalition negotiations are not conducted in this manner.
Ben-Gvir's party issued a short response: "We are not asking for jobs or honors, but are insisting only on minimal ideological demands."
Returning to Homesh!
One of the first bills to be considered by the new Knesset under the new government is one that would abolish the Disengagement from northern Shomron. The bill would allow Jews to return to the Yeshiva in one of the four destroyed communities – Homesh – and, at a later date, to rebuild all four of them: Homesh, Sa-Nur, Kadim, and Ganim.
No fewer than 44 MKs have already signed on to the bill, which is sponsored by MKs Yuli Edelstein (Likud) and Orit Strook (Religious-Zionism). Prime Minister-designate Binyamin Netanyahu signed his support of the bill under the previous government.
The stated purpose of the bill is "to correct the evil folly of the Disengagement Law." It applies at present only to the northern Shomron, not to Gush Katif and Gaza.
Strook, who is to be named Minister of National Initiatives, said, "We have been seeing tremendous and growing support for Homesh and for the great ideal it stands for: rectifying the sin of the withdrawal from northern Shomron."
Shomron Region Council head Yossi Dagan, a former resident of Sa-Nur and a strong force behind the bill, said, "The time has come for this bill to pass; we won't wait any more. The public is looking forward to it, quite exasperated by what is seen from year to year to be a very tragic mistake. It's time to return home!"