The Jerusalem Police Chief Confirms That Ben Gvir is Seeking to Significantly Facilitate Conditions for Al-Aqsa Raids

SadaNews - The commander of the occupation police in Jerusalem confirmed that the extremist Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben Gvir, is seeking to significantly facilitate the conditions for raids on the blessed Al-Aqsa Mosque, while the latter is trying to isolate him from his position.

This came according to what was reported by the newspaper "Haaretz" through its website, in a report on Sunday evening, which mentioned that the commander of the Jerusalem area, Amir Arzani, criticized the police commissioner, Daniel Levi, and told him that the latter "does not support him against Ben Gvir, who is demanding facilitation of police procedures for the (raids) of Jewish (settlers)" to the Al-Aqsa Mosque.

According to the report, multiple unnamed sources in the police and security apparatus stated that Ben Gvir is "dissatisfied with Arzani for his ongoing refusal to allow public prayers and to extend the prayer hours for (settlers)."

The report mentioned that Arzani informed Ben Gvir, during a tour in the Old City, that "his position (towards Ben Gvir) is the decisive factor in matters related to the Al-Aqsa Mosque (the blessed sanctuary)."

It was noted that Arzani did not accompany Ben Gvir during today’s raid on the Al-Aqsa Mosque and remained at the police headquarters throughout the raid's duration.

Ben Gvir and Levi are interested in transferring him from his position

According to the same sources, Levi and Ben Gvir "are interested in transferring Arzani to another position, but he informed them that the position of commander of the Jerusalem area would be his last position in the police."

The report noted that Arzani told the police commissioner: "I do not intend to leave (meaning he does not intend to resign from his position)," demanding that he support him publicly in "sensitive issues in the region."

According to sources, Arzani stated that contrary to the wishes of Ben Gvir and Levi, he does not intend to end his position before the end of 2026. However, "Ben Gvir and the police chief forced Arzani to make several appointments in the area, contrary to his position."

The sources added that Arzani was recently excluded from consultations with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding police preparations for the month of Ramadan, which will occur this year in February.

"Haaretz" pointed out that the police representative in the consultations was "Ben Gvir's security secretary, unlike previous years, where the commander of the Jerusalem area was regularly present in the consultations."

The report stated that Arzani "is considered one of the few opposing voices to the police commissioner and Ben Gvir, and he does not hesitate to express his stance to them publicly."

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