Minister of National Security Itamar Ben Gabir called on Police Commissioner Chief Superintendent Ya’akov Shabtai to clarify to the Tel Aviv District Commander Superintendent Ami Ashad the minister’s policy regarding the blocking of roads. This was reported this evening (Friday) on the Friday news in Khan 11.
Ben Gabir against the commander of the Tel Aviv district The Minister of National Security demanded that the commissioner summon Eshad, who recently behaved lightly in front of the protesters, and clarify to him the policy regarding roadblocks: “The minister sets the policy – not the commander in the field”@moyshis #NewsFriday pic.twitter.com/FpxWBLySWr
— here news (@kann_news) March 3, 2023
In recent weeks, the district commander has allowed protesters to block roads for short periods of time, including in Ayalon lanes. In the letter he sent to Commissioner Shabtai, Minister Ben Gvir wrote that one should not agree in advance to a situation of blocking central roads, without a permit and contrary to the conditions of the demonstration license. This week it was reported here that the legal advice made it clear to Minister Ben Gvir that he cannot be involved in such operational decisions.
In response to the letter sent by the Minister of National Security to the Commissioner of Police, the organizers of the protest stated that “this is an attempt to harm the freedom of protest and freedom of speech by a convicted terrorist. He is trying to turn the police into a political militia that will act against the hundreds of thousands who go out to protest. An attempt that will fail is a serious failure.”