Public Security Minister Avi Dichter made an attempt Sunday morning to convince Southern District Police Commander Uri Bar-Lev to take a year's "study leave" but was unsuccessful, with Bar-Lev insisting he would not waste the public's money on such a venture.
The move was part of a shuffle of senior police officials that began with a directive by Police Commissioner Inspector-General David Cohen, who had ordered Bar-Lev to take the leave and issued a statement to the media last week saying the veteran commander would "complete his duties and retire from the force" in 2009.