More than two dozen former Israeli police chiefs have reportedly written to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express their concern about the direction of government policies, specifically warning that the proposals of National Security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir will lead to a third intifada.

Israel’s Channel 12 TV reported this week that 25 former police chiefs and commanders, said to include former Jerusalem region commanders, are deeply unhappy about Ben-Gvir’s latest demands to proceed with demolition orders of illegally built Palestinian homes in east Jerusalem.

The demolitions, if carried out, would take place during the month of Ramadan, which begins at the end of March. 

The signatories reminded the prime minister that accepted police practice — supported by a number of presently serving senior police officers — was to do whatever possible to reduce activities during Ramadan, in an effort to decrease tensions. 

Demolitions during the holy Muslim month in previous years have frequently set off violence between east Jerusalem residents and the security forces. The ex-police officers said that they too were joining the weekly mass protests against the government, describing their action as “saving the police from Ben-Gvir.” 

Ben-Gvir, leader of the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, has apparently clashed with both the prime minister and the country’s Police Commissioner, Kobi Shabtai, over his demand to step up the home demolitions. The premier has reportedly asked Ben-Gvir to show restraint, fearing international backlash if high-profile demolitions were to take place.

According to the Times of Israel, Ben-Gvir is urging police to get even tougher on the weekly demonstrations, sanctioning “brutal” reprisals against the protesters. People were allegedly sprayed with water cannon and stun grenades, with some women in their 70s complaining that days after the protest, they were still trying to clean their hair and eyes from the chemicals used.