Minister of National Security Itamar Ben-Gvir spoke to journalists outside the weekly Cabinet meeting Sunday morning and stated that the counter-terrorism operations he has ordered in Arab neighborhoods of Jerusalem will continue.
Ben-Gvir addressed reports of strong disagreements between himself and Police Commissioner Yaakov Shabtai: "I spoke with the commissioner this morning and told him this is my policy."
Shabtai reportedly warned Ben-Gvir against holding the body of the terrorist who murdered seven Israeli civilians outside a synagogue in the Neve Yaakov of Jerusalem last month.
According to a report on Channel 13 News on Saturday night, Shabtai was of the opinion that continuing to hold the terrorist's body would lead to an escalation in eastern Jerusalem and therefore believed that the terrorist's body should be returned to his family.
Ben-Gvir responded that, in a previous incident of a terrorist who pointed a firearm at police, the police made a similar claim, that holding on to the body would cause disturbances, but it was the holding of the terrorist's funeral with the body which led to disturbances and not Israel holding onto his body.
In response to the demonstration outside the cabinet meeting by residents of Lod, who are demanding that the government act following a spate of murders and serious crime in their city, Ben-Gvir said: "I met the residents of Lod and embraced them, we will increase the budget and bring more police officers to the city of Lod."
Lod Mayor Yair Revivo, who organized the demonstration, said that "five murders in ten days is something that even Lod has not seen before. I am going to tell the prime minister that we love and support him, but we cannot wait for the judicial reforms to be completed" before the government acts to combat the rising crime.
Also outside the Cabinet meeting, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis (Likud) condemned the incitement against government officials over the government's planned judicial reforms.
"The level of incitement of the political opponents has crossed all red lines. Political murder, unfortunately, is a matter of time. If the law enforcement officials do not come to their senses, this may happen. It is possible and desirable to debate the judicial reform, I'm in favor of demonstrations, but we need to stop this incitement."