The National Guard Militia: Netanyahu’s Reward to Ben-Gvir After Freezing the Judicial Coup

The Israeli government has granted permission for the establishment of a national guard proposed by the far-right security minister, Itamar Ben-Gvir, which will purportedly address Arab unrest. Some political rivals have accused Ben-Gvir of creating a sectarian “militia.”

The former government had initiated steps to create an auxiliary police force to combat domestic political violence following pro-Palestinian demonstrations in mixed Jewish–Arab areas during the Israel-Gaza conflict in May 2021.

However, the government’s term ended before the force could be fully developed.

According to a statement released by the prime minister’s office three weeks ago, a committee consisting of various Israeli security agencies will convene to discuss the specific powers of the newly established national guard. The committee is expected to provide recommendations within a period of 90 days.

The idea of forming this national guard began in 2022, and the purpose was to take on the task of confronting the Palestinians and to allow the Israeli police to focus on its routine duties.

However, the timing of renewing the discussion to suspend the “Judicial Reforms” laws, and to hand over the new security force’s leadership to Ben-Gvir, raised speculation that its goal was to suppress Israeli protesters as well.

For the past 15 weeks, tens of thousands of Israelis have been protesting against the “Judicial Reform” plan supported by Netanyahu’s government, which includes amendments that restrict the powers of the Supreme Court (the highest judicial authority) and give the government the power to appoint judges.

On the evening of March 27, Netanyahu announced that he had reached an agreement with Ben-Gvir to delay the judicial reforms for a period of six months, and he said that the agreement includes “important elements that will strengthen the security of the citizens of Israel and the state.”

Therefore, questions have been raised about this guard, and whether it is intended to suppress Israelis who oppose Netanyahu and his extremist coalition, or to suppress Palestinians only.

 

The National Guard Story

The idea of creating the National Guard in “Israel” emerged after the outbreak of the “Dignity Uprising” in May 2021 and the confrontations with the Palestinians of the occupied territories of 1948, who came out to defend themselves against attacks by settler gangs.

At that time, there was talk of the possibility of a civil war breaking out between the Palestinians of 1948 and the settlers who attacked their homes and shops in response to attacks on worshipers in the al-Aqsa Mosque during Ramadan 2021, and the war in Gaza and the shelling of occupied cities.

The aim was for this guard to work to deter Palestinians of 1948 with security and police forces, to suppress and extinguish any popular uprising that might arise, such as the “Dignity Uprising.”

On July 5, 2022, the Israeli National Security Studies Institute published a study by researcher Meir Elran, in which he confirmed that the idea of the National Guard emerged based on the lessons learned from the May 2021 clashes between Palestinians and Jews.

He explained that its goals are deterrence, rapid response, and readiness for potential disasters, as it will provide deterrence at the national level against elements prone to unrest and public order violators, and also, enhance the police force in recurrent disturbances.

He pointed out that the primary mission of the Israeli National Guard will be related to the potential violent friction within Israeli space, including the Arab community.

On June 21, 2022, former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and the Minister of Internal Security and the Police Commissioner announced the start of forming the National Guard to work as part of the border guard and as an arm of the Israeli police.

On March 27, 2023, the Hebrew newspaper, Israel Hayom, confirmed that the creation of the Israeli National Guard was one of the lessons learned from the “Guardian of the Walls” operation in Gaza in May 2021, when Palestinian 1948 residents participated in the revolution against the Israeli Occupation.

On February 5, 2023, the same newspaper reported that Brigadier Gal Hirsch presented a study on the new National Guard to the Netanyahu government, which was approved by the latter.

The proposal, according to the newspaper, is to form a military force for internal security headed by the Chief of Staff of the National Guard, consisting of five “reserve teams,” one of which will be transferred from the Israeli army to the police.

Prior to this, and to establish a “proof of concept” for these forces, a member of the Ben-Gvir party established a civil militia in the Be’er Sheva area in March 2022.

These militias have their own equipment, weapons, and patrols, and open their doors to Jewish volunteers claiming to enforce security in the Negev, while their role is to attack Palestinians.

The financial cost of establishing the National Guard is around $31 million, according to Hebrew newspapers, and will be converted into a one-time budget.

 

Israeli Fears

After Israelis were worried about Netanyahu’s plan to weaken the judiciary, and believed they had achieved a victory in the battle against that, they are now faced with a fresh crisis called the National Guard.

On March 27, 2023, the Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper reported that “Israel” is facing a new crisis, which is the formation of a national guard under the direct command of Ben-Gvir. It described it as a serious threat to Israeli democracy, no less than judicial reform.

The opponents are concerned that the National Guard, which they call “Ben-Gvir’s army,” may be an armed militia that could be used against them, rather than just performing security tasks in the West Bank and occupied Jerusalem (al-Quds).

They fear that these militias may be the beginning of restricting freedoms and granting settlers and the Zionist religious trend greater powers, allowing them to direct weapons against the left and Israeli opposition, in addition to Palestinians in the West Bank or 1948 Palestine.

Under the title A Kahanist Militia for Netanyahu, Haaretz newspaper reported on March 28, 2023, that Netanyahu had previously warned of a civil war, and now he seems to be inciting it by supporting the formation of this private militia.

In its editorial, the newspaper mentioned that Ben-Gvir is a disciple of the late racist Rabbi Meir Kahane, a convicted lawbreaker, extremist, and instigator, and therefore, the establishment of national guard units under his command instead of the police is an irresponsible act that endangers the lives of those who have not violated the law.

The newspaper pointed out that the National Guard will target not only the Palestinians but also the opposition, and Netanyahu’s move indicates that he is preparing for civil war.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak also described the appointment of Ben-Gvir as head of the National Guard as a crazy step for Netanyahu, according to an interview with CNN on March 27, 2023.

He added that Ben-Gvir was charged 53 times, and convicted several times, one of which was related to terrorism, so how can he lead a security force to maintain stability?

Former assistant to Foreign Minister Idan Roll also warned in a tweet that members of the racist right-wing La Familia organization will become armed and empowered National Guard.

The newspaper Israel Hayom announced on March 28, 2023, that police officials expressed their strong opposition to the establishment of a national guard working directly under the National Security Minister.

Israeli police officers, including their commander Kobi Shabtai, strongly opposed the formation of the new National Guard, which will be under Ben-Gvir’s command, and expressed concern about his “shadow militias,” according to Haaretz on March 29, 2023.

Former Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz had previously warned in 2022 that the leader of the far-right Jewish Power (Otzma Yehudit) party wants to establish a private militia, pointing out that this step is a security mistake that could cost lives.

 

To Oppress the Palestinians

Numerous Palestinian political parties have extensively criticized the National Guard forces, contending that they are fascist battalions established to suppress Palestinians living within “Israel,” particularly in historically significant Palestinian cities such as Jaffa and Akka, and that they will also operate in the West Bank.

Sheikh Kamal al-Khatib, Deputy Chairman of the Islamic Movement in Occupied Palestine in 1948, stated that these forces will include thugs, hooligans, and militias and that Ben-Gvir will utilize the National Guard forces to carry out his hostility toward Palestinians, resulting in the use of deadly force against them

On March 29, 2023, Hamas, the Islamic Resistance Movement, stated through its spokesperson Jihad Taha that the National Guard forces are a “militia” aimed at “further oppression” of the Palestinians inside the 1948 occupied territories. According to the Jerusalem Post, the Palestinian Authority described the proposed force as a militia that raises many concerns about its role against Palestinians.

The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement affirming that providing legal protection to these individuals who have committed criminal acts is tantamount to endorsing murder. Such a move could potentially lead to further massacres and acts of harassment against Palestinians and their properties.

The ministry accused Netanyahu of “unleashing” Ben-Gvir against the Palestinians and warned that this move will ignite the conflict and thus undermine any effort to stop the escalation and achieve calm.

The Middle East Eye website quoted Yonatan Touval, an analyst at the Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies (Mitvim), as saying that the National Guard under direct leadership would be deployed in Arab towns inside “Israel.” He clarified that the force will focus on enforcing law and order on Arab residents whenever tensions and violence erupt.