Israel Police Budget Freeze Hits Elite Counter-Terror Units

An escalating dispute between Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and the Police Commissioner's office over the police budget has reached elite operational units. Police sources claim Ben-Gvir's budget freeze is not only impacting daily operations but also units involved in counter-terrorism and serious crime.

Information obtained by Ynet reveals that frozen funds include those designated for improving infrastructure and service conditions for the elite counter-terrorism Yamam unit, the Gideonim (Unit 33 of Lahav 433), and the Border Police compound in Yehudai. Ben-Gvir had previously accused the police of "a spending spree," citing a "Lahav 433 renovation project" in a letter to Commissioner Danny Levy. However, police argue this description obscures the fact that the renovations are critically needed for the Gideonim, an elite unit whose soldiers participate in counter-terrorism operations.

Senior police officials state that the living conditions for Gideonim soldiers have deteriorated to the point where some are forced to sleep in tents and substandard housing. "These are soldiers who participate in neutralizing terrorists and are forced to return to base and sleep in a tent and in inadequate housing," a senior police source said, emphasizing the sensitive nature of their operations and the inadequacy of their base facilities.

The budget freeze also affects the Yamam and the Yehudai Border Police compound, where elevators are reportedly non-operational, forcing officers to carry heavy equipment up to the fourth floor after long shifts. Police contend that this budget dispute directly impacts the welfare and operational readiness of their forces.

Ben-Gvir's office responded by accusing the Police Commissioner's staff of "extravagance," claiming that funds allocated for important projects have "disappeared." They stated that Ben-Gvir would prefer to transfer budgets directly to police units, bypassing the central police budget, which they allege is being diverted by the Commissioner to "wasteful and ostentatious projects."