Israeli Police Rosh Hashanah Ceremony Held Without Promotions Amid Minister Feud

The Israeli Police's annual Rosh Hashanah ceremony took place this morning at the Police Academy in Beit Shemesh, but unlike previous years, it was held without the customary promotion ceremonies. This absence is due to an ongoing dispute between Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir.

Senior officers, who were expecting promotions, have sharply criticized Commissioner Shabtai, stating that if he had wished to resolve the issue with the minister, he would have done so. They claim Shabtai's decision to proceed with appointments not agreed upon by Ben-Gvir led to the cancellation of promotions at the ceremony.

Sources close to the minister indicated that Ben-Gvir believes Shabtai should not be a puppet of the Attorney General and should instead implement the minister's policies, drawing a comparison to the Prison Service. Ben-Gvir has reportedly refused to sign new appointments during the election period.

In response, the Police Commissioner's office stated that Shabtai will continue with the appointments and expects Ben-Gvir's support. The minister himself has decided to boycott the traditional ceremony.