West Bank police chief: I love settlers, Tel Aviv does nothing for Israel

The outgoing commander of the Israel Police in the West Bank praised the settlers and took umbrage with their detractors, particularly residents of Tel Aviv "whose willingness to contribute to the state is one big zero."

"I love the settlers, they are the salt of the earth," Police Major General Shlomi Katbi told Army Radio on Monday. "The insufferable ease with which they are denigrated and harmed and the statements made against them is just disgusting."

Katbi, who will retire from the police force after 30 years of service, launched a lengthy verbal diatribe against "those who sit in Tel Aviv, park their jeeps on the sidewalk on Sheinkin Street, drink espresso with one foot resting on the other, and allow themselves to level criticism and to tell stories."

The retiring police officer said he did not think that the evacuation of West Bank settler outposts would ignite riots or widespread unrest.

"I know my police officers and I do not believe that there will be a problem once we reach the moment the order is given," Katbi told Army Radio. "My officers are disciplined, diplomatic, and understanding of the significance of refusing orders, so I don't see any [potential] difficulty."