Israel agrees to form 'national guard' under Ben Gvir's command

Israel on Sunday allowed the formation of a "national guard" under the leadership of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who said the guard would focus on countering violence and unrest.

The previous government had begun procedures to form an auxiliary police force to counter internal political violence following pro-Palestinian protests in areas where Jews and Arabs lived together during the May 2021 Gaza war, but that government left before the formation of this force was completed.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office said in a statement that the specific powers of the new National Guard would be discussed by a committee made up of all Israeli security services, which would make recommendations within 90 days.

It was not immediately clear who would have direct authority over the National Guard.

Police Commissioner Yacoub Shabtai expressed concerns about the new force in a letter to Ben Gvir, local media reported.

Ben Gvir described the planned National Guard in media interviews as an update on the previous government's initiative.

Arab politicians denounced the National Guard as Ben Gvir's "militia". Other opposition figures accused Ben Gvir of wanting to form a new force to quell demonstrations against the government's plan for judicial amendments.