Senior Israeli military officer reprimanded for unauthorized meeting with Itamar Ben-Gvir
A senior Israeli military commander was reprimanded by the Israeli Forces for an unauthorised meeting with Minister of Public Security Itamar Ben-Gvir, an IDF spokesperson confirmed on Thursday morning.
Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir at the funeral of terror victims Maya and Rina Dee in Kfar Etzion on April 9, 2023. Photo by Yoav Dudkevitch/TPS
Col. Avinoam Amunah, who commands both the IDF’s Tactical Command College and Hermon Brigade, met with Ben-Gvir to discuss the possibility of an appointment as commander of a National Guard Ben-Gvir wants to form.
Although Col. Amunah is expected to retire from the military in six months, his meeting with Ben-Gvir was without the knowledge or approval of the IDF brass. Military orders prohibit direct contact between officers and senior political leaders.
The IDF said in a statement, “The investigation was carried out after it became clear that the officer met with the Minister of National Security, Itamar Ben-Gvir. According to the findings, the officer met with the minister without coordination and approval as required, in violation of the prohibition on direct contact between IDF officers and the senior political echelon. Therefore, the officer was reprimanded by the commander of the military colleges.”
The statement added that Col. Amunah “took responsibility for his actions and acknowledged the seriousness of the act.”
On April 2, the government authorised the creation of the National Guard, an auxiliary police force, which would take several months to establish. However, the government held off on giving Ben-Gvir direct control of it.
The previous government of Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett advanced plans for an auxiliary police force to deal with Arab-Israeli cities following riots in May 2021. However, the government collapsed before the plans could be completed.
Critics of Ben-Gvir’s proposal say it raises the possibility of police and National Guard forces receiving conflicting orders on how to deal with protesters.
