A Knesset oversight committee heard on Tuesday that Israeli police stations are still missing 1,470 approved positions, even though the force says its manpower has grown sharply in recent years. The discussion, focused on police buildup and readiness, raised concerns about operational preparedness and the ability to protect civilians.
Police planning chief for resources, Brig. Gen. Ural Abrahami, said the police roster has increased by 3,464 officers over the past three and a half years, a rise of 13.3%. He added that about 900 more officers are expected by the end of 2026, bringing total growth to more than 4,300 officers over four years. But the Knesset research center presented a different picture, saying 1,640 station positions were added in recent years while actual staffing rose by only 523 officers.
Abrahami said police stations have 11,315 approved positions, of which 10,420 are filled, an average staffing rate of 92%. He said the weakest staffing levels are in the Jerusalem, Central and Tel Aviv districts, where service conditions are more difficult, and that the police commissioner has made stations a top priority for resources and recruitment. He also said 70% of the vehicle replacement budget is being directed to stations, even though they account for only 30% of the fleet, alongside grants, welfare benefits, salary supplements and targeted incentives, especially in Jerusalem. A starting officer after one year of service now earns 14,000 to 15,000 shekels gross a month, he said.
The committee also discussed the National Guard, which currently operates under Border Police. It has about 950 positions, with roughly 550 officers already transferred into it, mostly from Border Police. The Interior Security Ministry said the force is meant to respond to emergencies and nationalist-riot incidents, and also to bolster the fight against serious crime and crime in Arab society, but not routine civilian protests. The ministry said work on formalizing the guard is nearly complete and hopes to bring a government decision in the next one or two weeks. Committee chair Alon Shuster said the data show progress in manpower growth but also raise major questions about resource allocation, station staffing gaps and the impact of creating new bodies, and he said the panel will keep monitoring the state comptroller’s recommendations and the guard’s final approval.
