Israel is facing more turmoil as a result of the government’s plans to form a militia headed by a far-right minister.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the Jewish Power party, that a “national guard” would be formed under the command of his national security ministry.
Mr Netanyahu made the pledge in return for Mr Ben-Gvir agreeing not to resign after the Prime Minister suspended the controversial legislation to weaken the Supreme Court.
Without Jewish Power, Mr Netanyahu would have lost his majority.
Mr Ben-Gvir has been convicted of incitement to racial hatred and support of Jewish terrorist organisations but plays a pivotal role in the coalition that brought Mr Netanyahu back to power at the end of last year.
As National Security Minister, he has already clashed with the police commissioner, accusing him of being too soft on pro-democracy protesters who have taken to the streets against the government’s “legal reform”.
The demonstrators were out in force on Saturday night across Israel, carrying signs saying “No to the judicial upheaval and no to a racist militia”.
Senior security officials said any force directly answerable to Mr Ben-Gvir would serve as his private militia, without judicial oversight.
Explaining why it was needed, Mr Ben-Gvir said: “We’ve seen how the police can’t react quickly and effectively and why there’s a clear need for a national guard. Our police officers are swamped and can’t be everywhere.”
Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai has also warned against forming a domestic security force not under the direct command of the police. “It could severely harm the personal security of civilians,” he said.
Despite the warnings, Mr Netanyahu refused to have the commissioner at the weekly cabinet meeting on Sunday at which he approved the decision to form the national guard and cut the budgets of other government ministries in order to fund it. A committee with representatives of the different security services will be formed to decide on the parameters of the new force’s operations.
“The national guard is needed as a tactical force for violent events happening simultaneously across the country,” said Almog Cohen, a Jewish Power member of the Knesset.
“Ultimately it will be operated under police command.”
Yet Mr Ben-Gvir has insisted his office will be responsible for the national guard.
The Movement for Quality Government in Israel, a non-partisan pro-democracy charity, said the national guard would serve “the purpose of carrying out controversial tasks of a political nature that are in line with the minister’s policy and at his sole discretion,” adding that “Ben-Gvir is determined to have a political police that will serve his private interests”.
Meanwhile, delegations representing the political parties continued their meetings under the auspices of President Isaac Herzog in an attempt to reach a compromise on constitutional changes. Likud politicians have said when the summer session of the Knesset, or parliament, begins in four weeks, they will reintroduce the law – suspended by Mr Netanyahu last week – that gives the coalition control of appointments to the Supreme Court. Opponents have threatened to bring the country to a standstill if that happens.