Aharonovitch blasts Danino for 'unfortunate' interference in successor's appointment

Public security minister says police chief should stick to "dealing with police affairs" and "leave it to the minister, along with the prime minister, to decide on the next head of the police."

By YONAH JEREMY BOB
Yitzhak Aharonovitch (photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Yitzhak Aharonovitch
(photo credit: MARC ISRAEL SELLEM/THE JERUSALEM POST)
Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch on Monday blasted Police Insp.-Gen. Yohanan Danino for an "unfortunate statement" and for his unusual public intervening in the process of selecting his successor, an area under Aharonovitch's authority.
He made the comments during a Succot holiday visit to the Western Wall.
Aharonovitch was referring to a recent interview Danino gave to Yediot Ahronot in which he disputed the wisdom of Aharonovitch's reported leaning to appoint a new head of the police from candidates outside of the police force.
In the interview, Danino said that experience within the police had been important for him in fulfilling his duties and would be for any future leader.
The public security minister said Danino's statements were "not correct and not good," and that Danino should stick to "dealing with police affairs" and "leave it to the minister, along with the prime minister, to decide on the next head of the police."
Further, Aharonovitch added that "it's too early, we have time, so there is no need to talk, or take a position" about what kind of candidate should succeed Danino.
Pressed on whether he is getting closer to selecting a candidate, he said he was "starting to formulate a leaning , but things are very initial," and that the public "needs to let the minister and the prime minister make good decisions."
Danino did not publicly respond to the unusual scolding, but a police spokesman said that the matter was unfit for being addressed in the media.
The controversy has been brewing for some time following the recent scandal-related resignations of top police officials who might have been in the running for replacing Danino, including Jerusalem District Commander Yossi Pariente. Central District Commander Bruno Stein, Lahav 443 Commander Menashe Arbiv and top official Niso Shaham.
Outside candidates being speculated about have included former top IDF and fire department officials.