Niso Shaham
Photo: Guy Asayag
Promotion of police officer who cursed Gaza evacuees irks Right
Former Negev District police chief Niso Shaham, who during 2005 pullout urged subordinates to 'hit settlers low with your batons,' to be promoted to the rank of major general. Rightists: Decision humiliates large segment of population
Elements within Israel's Right have blasted the decision by Internal Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch and Israel Police chief Dudi Cohen to promote Brigadier General Niso Shaham to the rank of major general and appoint him head of the police's Logistic Support Department.
Shaham, the former police commander of the Negev region, sparked an uproar during Israel's unilateral disengagement from Gaza and parts of the West Bank in 2005 when made offensive remarks against Jewish settlers.
Shaham was caught on video urging border police to "hit low with your batons, if needed." He also said settlers should be "burnt, and shat on," and threatened that he was not "a whore whose legs are open...they will pay!"
Shaham was tried and reprimanded for his remarks by an Israel Police committee. In 2007 the High Court of Justice rejected two petitions seeking to halt his appointment as deputy Jerusalem District Police chief.
"This is a bad decision, and it humiliates a large segment of the population," one prominent rightist told Ynet Sunday night, "Shaham acted like a bully. This is the real face of the Israeli police department."
Shomron Regional Council head Geshon Mesika called on Aharonovitch to reverse the decision and "stop this foolish act."
Knesset Member Arieh Eldad (National Union) said, "The settlers forgave Shaham after he publicly apologized to leading rabbis, but Israel Police must take a good look at itself and see this man, who used language that hardened criminals hesitate to use."
Yossi Dagan of the Shomron Settlers Committee, who was evacuated from the northern West Bank settlement of Sa-Nur during the pullout, said Shaham's behavior shamed Israel's law enforcement agencies.
"Anyone who promotes such a violent man who hates settlers should not be surprised by the police department's repeated embarrassing failures," he said.
