New police Commissioner Yohanan Danino promoted top police officer Major General Niso Shaham on Tuesday to serve as Jerusalem's District commander, despite his severe comments against the settlers during the Gaza disengagement in 2005.

Then Negev Region Commander, Shaham called right-wing demonstrators at Kfar Maimon "shits" and said he hoped they burn. The comment was recorded by a journalist just an hour after his ordering the halting of demonstrators gathered in the southern town by any means possible.

Open gallery view New Jerusalem District Commander Niso Shaham, Credit: Courtesy Israel Police

Shaham's comments were rebuked by then police Chief Moshe Karadi and he was reprimanded.

His promotion was part of extensive changes being implemented by the new police commissioner, and approved by Public Security Minister Yitzhak Aharonovitch.

More than 10 police officials were promoted alongside Shaham, including the appointment of former Tel Aviv Municipality spokesman Hilel Partok as the new police spokesperson.

Danino also announced that he would be splitting the northern police district into two, one based in the coast around Haifa and the second in the eastern area in the Galilee and the Golan Heights.