Nearly six years after the "disengagement" and the forced expulsion of some 10,000 Jews from their homes in Gush Katif and northern Samaria by Ariel Sharon, Niso Shaham, whose claim-to-fame is his hateful invective against right-wing and religious Jews, is set to become the Israel Police Jerusalem Police Commander.
Right-wing activists and officials in Judea and Samaria slammed the appointment, with many expressing shock and disappointment, especially given the fact that it is one of the first appointments made by Yochanan Danino, the new National Commander for the Israel Police.
Shaham, then Southern District Police Commander, became infamous when a Channel 10 cameraman caught him cursing – nearly foaming at the mouth, actually – during the police evacuation of protesters from Kfar Maimon, where thousands had massed in the days leading up to the disengagement to protest the removal of Gush Katif Jews from their homes by the Sharon government.
He was filmed using choice curse words and other forms of vitriol, saying that the protesters “should all burn.” Telling police officers to physically attack protesters and set water cannons on them to break up the protests in Kfar Maimon, Shaham told officers, “Don't have any mercy on them. Use any means necessary against them, including arrests and physical force. They should all burn, these (expletive deleted) religious, I know who they are. I am an expert on these Hareidim.”
MKs and right-wing leaders expressed shock at Shaham's comments at the time, but no disciplinary action was taken. In fact, Shaham himself had nothing to say about his behavior – until three years later, in 2008, when he asked to be appointed Jerusalem District Deputy Commander.
In order to get the job, Shaham issued an apology, saying that “my expressions at the time were unacceptable and hurtful. Since that incident, I have felt regretful over what happened and have lost sleep over it.” He said that during his time serving in the police department, “I have come to know the Zionist-religious community well, and I admire their good citizenship principles and actions in many of the legitimate avenues of action in the State of Israel.” MKs and officials condemned the apology, saying that it was far from what was really needed.
Reaction was swift and harsh when the appointment was announced Tuesday. Kedumim mayor Hananel Dorani, speaking for himself and other mayors of towns in Judea and Samaria, said that he was “shocked at the appointment of a man who called for physical action against protesters and said that they should 'burn.'”
Right-wing activist Itamar Ben-Gvir said that “there is no doubt that if he had said such things about Arabs, or any other community, he would not be appointed. Once again Public Security Minister Yitzchak Aharonovich has betrayed those who voted for his government.”