Police chief Shabtai to finish term in January, Tel Aviv commander replaced

Shabtai and Ben-Gvir will work together to choose a new police chief to replace Shabtai once he finishes his term.

 NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai attend the opening of a new police station in the Negev. (photo credit: FLASH90)
NATIONAL SECURITY MINISTER Itamar Ben-Gvir and Police Commissioner Kobi Shabtai attend the opening of a new police station in the Negev.
(photo credit: FLASH90)

Israel Police chief Kobi Shabtai  and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir agreed that Shabtai would leave his post as police chief on January 17, they announced on Wednesday.

Shabtai and Ben-Gvir agreed to work together to choose a new police chief and have agreed on a series of new appointments throughout the police force.

Shabtai and Ben-Gvir will work together to choose a new police chief to replace Shabtai once he finishes his term

Peretz Amar will be appointed the new commander of the Tel Aviv District, and the current commander Ami Eshed will become commander of the training division.

Amir Cohen will be appointed commander of the Southern District, Yoram Sofer (currently the commander of the Coastal District) will be appointed commissioner to fight Arab sector crime, and Dani Levi will replace Sofer as Coastal District commander.

 Tel Aviv District Commander of the Police, Amichai (Ami) Eshed, oversees a protest against the Israeli government's planned judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on March 11, 2023.  (credit: ERIK MARMOR/FLASH90)
Tel Aviv District Commander of the Police, Amichai (Ami) Eshed, oversees a protest against the Israeli government's planned judicial overhaul in Tel Aviv on March 11, 2023. (credit: ERIK MARMOR/FLASH90)

Ben-Gvir had already decided to transfer Eshed in March but was blocked from doing so by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who froze the decision until a legal investigation into the matter.

Additionally, Amir Cohen will be appointed as the new commander of the Southern District, Yoram Sofer (currently the commander of the Coastal District) will be appointed as the commissioner for the fight against crime in the Arab sector, and Dani Levi will replace Sofer as the commander of the Coastal District.

Earlier this month, Sofer - who is considered a leading candidate to replace Shabtai - stirred controversy after telling N12 that he handled attempts by protesters to block roads with "a heavy hand" and bragging that roads were not blocked in his jurisdiction.

Sofer has been the center of controversy in recent weeks as a number of incidents of alleged police brutality were reported against protesters in Caesarea and Hadera, which are under his jurisdiction.

Also, Dep. Com. Brick Yitzchak will be appointed as the commander of Border Police, Yossi Roffe will be appointed as the head of the planning division, and Yair Hezroni will be appointed as the head of the logistics division.