Lapid described it as an army of thugs. The Israeli government cuts 1.5% of the ministries' budgets for the National Guard led by Ben Gvir

The Israeli government approved on Sunday a 1.5% cut from the budgets of ministries in favor of the establishment of the "National Guard", an armed force that will be overseen by extremist National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the government approved a 1.5 percent cut from ministry budgets in favor of establishing the National Guard in line with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's promise to Ben Gvir, after he agreed to suspend the "judicial reform" plan about a week ago.

Last week, Netanyahu announced that Ben Gvir would be given the "green light" to form the National Guard from volunteers, security personnel and former soldiers.

Opponents of the move argued that Netanyahu had agreed to set up a militia led by the leader of the far-right Jewish Power party, Ben Gvir.

Opposition leader Yair Lapid said Netanyahu's government "has cut health, education and security budgets to fund an army of thugs and Ben-Gvir's own militia."

Israeli government Attorney General Ghali Bharav Mayara objected to the establishment of the National Guard because of "legal obstacles and the lack of security need for its formation."

In a letter sent to the government, the chancellor said: "There is a legal obstacle, and the police must deal with security problems without the need for an additional body."

The Minister of National Security responded, saying, "The Attorney General is once again trying to put sticks in the wheels and is now trying to prevent the establishment of the National Guard of the State of Israel."

Israeli police chief Yaakov Shabtai also announced his opposition to the creation of a "National Guard" led by Ben Gvir.

In a lengthy letter to Ben Gvir, Shabtai said, "It is not at all clear why an additional security authority was established in Israel whose areas of responsibility and authority overlap with those of the police."

Ben Gvir rejected Shabtai's request to participate in the Israeli cabinet meeting on Sunday to express his position on the issue of the National Guard.

"There are senior police officers who don't want a national guard because of ego wars," the Israeli minister's office said.