Jerusalem: Israel's far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has decided to promote the commander of the undercover unit in the occupied West Bank to the rank of colonel, one day after members of the unit executed two unarmed young men in Jenin after they had just surrendered.
According to Palestine News and Information Agency - WAFA, Ben-Gvir visited the unit's base to personally inform its commander of his approval of the promotion, which had been recommended by the police commissioner and senior police leadership. The decision is viewed as unusual, as commanders of similar undercover units across Israel's police districts typically hold the rank of lieutenant colonel. Historically, those who previously led this same unit also held that rank.
During his visit to the unit's base, Ben-Gvir expressed his dissatisfaction with the current post-incident procedures, stating, "This distorted procedure in which our fighters are taken for questioning immediately after shooting a 'terrorist' must end. We are fighting enemies and killers," thereby reiterating his support for the actions of the three officers involved in the Jenin incident.
Ben-Gvir also took to social media, writing on his account on X that "the fighters acted exactly as expected of them; the 'terrorists' should die," further solidifying his stance on the matter.
