Individuals close to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir are claiming this morning (Sunday) that following the Minister's decision to summon senior Israel Prison Service officials to a hearing, in contrast with Commissioner Chief Warden Katy Perry's opinion, the latter decided to transfer Jewish security prisoners from the Ayalon Prison to a small cell that is not big enough for two prisoners in the Eshel Prison.
This, according to the claims, "is to get revenge on the Minister for the hearings and because he has worked since entering his position for total equality between all security prisoners and conditions for the Jewish security prisoners that are equal to the other security prisoners.
The conflict between the two began after Ben-Gvir sent the National Security Ministry inspector to inspect those internees' new prison conditions. The inspector visited the wing, inspected four cells, and spoke with inmates. According to the inspector's findings, Wing 22 at the Eshel Prison, to which the prisoners were transferred, housed 14 prisoners, 13 criminals, and one Arab security prisoner.
The report's conclusions painted a severe picture regarding one of the inspected cells, in which the conditions were especially severe.
In light of the findings, the Minister summoned the commander of the Eshel Prison, Menachem Bibas, to clarify the reason for the severe conditions.
The Minister also summoned Intelligence Department Head Assistant Warden Regev and Central District Deputy Commander Assistant Warden Eran Fair. According to sources close to the Minister, Ben-Gvir is determined to stop the system of blaming the subordinate instead of going to the root of the problem and punishing the ones who are really at fault. "The one who is really at fault will pay the price for his failures, and the Minister is determined to utilize the hearing, despite the unacceptable conduct of the IPS and the attempts to 'get revenge' on the Minister who is in charge of the organization."