Israel Police Commander Amir Cohen Resigns, Eyes Top Job

Amir Cohen, the Commander of the Central District of the Israel Police, announced his resignation on Thursday after 38 years of service, amid reports of friction with the current Inspector General. Police sources anticipate Cohen will declare his candidacy for the position of Inspector General.

Cohen, who served as Commander of the Southern District on October 7th, was among the first senior security officials to grasp the severity of the Hamas infiltration. He had previously retired and was recalled to service as Commander of the Central District. He informed close associates of his decision on Thursday afternoon and is expected to submit a letter to the Inspector General after that evening's demonstrations conclude.

During his tenure as Southern District Commander, just two months before the October 7th attack, Cohen was credited with being the first to declare the "Fresh Fish" alert at 6:41 AM. He led the defense for approximately 50 consecutive hours, personally engaging terrorists, sustaining injuries, and refusing medical evacuation to continue commanding his officers. His actions and those of his officers in the Southern District during the initial hours of the attack have been widely praised.

Cohen expressed regret in a recent interview, stating, "I am not speaking out of a scratch left from that day, I am rational. Anyone whose eyes are open and lives in the criminal world with nationalistic connections can estimate that the threat of an invasion from the Judea and Samaria region could materialize." He believes that unlike the period before October 7th, when the Southern District and the police were not fully updated on intelligence, lessons have been learned, and there is a deeper understanding of the police's ability to contain incidents. As Commander of the Central District, he feels more informed.

Cohen recently authored a booklet titled "The Position of the Israel Police in the National Security of the State of Israel." He plans to present this document to Inspector General Dani Levy in about two weeks. He articulated frustration over not knowing more before the massacre, noting that the police were not part of security assessment meetings. He advocates for a shift in security doctrine to ensure greater police and National Security Ministry involvement in consolidating intelligence, suggesting the need for a police secretary akin to those serving the Prime Minister and President, to make the police more dominant.