Israel launched Tuesday a national guard aimed at strengthening the personal security of its citizens. The move was announced by Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Public Security Minister Omer Barlev, together with Israel Police Inspector General Commissioner Koby Shabtai and Border Police Commander Deputy Commissioner Amir Cohen.
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Established in the wake of the unrest in Israel's mixed cities during the May 2021 Gaza fighting, the new force is composed of Border Police units together with mobilized trained units of volunteers and reservists who will be trained and activated as needed to deal with disturbances and emergency scenarios.
"For me, this is the closing of a circle," Bennett said in a statement. "I came into office as Israel was licking its wounds from Operation Guardian of the Walls. We saw severe disturbances in Lod, Acre and around the country … We all understood that while we were talking about Iran and Hezbollah, the problem begins at home.
"Today we are starting out with a budgeted and approved decision to establish the Israel National Guard … This is my concluding action as prime minister: to launch the Israel National Guard and strengthen the public security of the State of Israel."
On Monday, Bennet and Foreign Minister Yair Lapid, who is also the prime minister-designate, agreed to dissolve the parliament, triggering an early election.
The Knesset is expected to enact the special bill to dissolve itself on Wednesday and set a date for the polls. If approved, Lapid will take over as prime minister of a caretaker government as part of a special rotating premiership agreement.
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