Police Commissioner Danny Levi threatened to shut down the police spokespeople division during a tense emergency meeting on Thursday, according to a Maariv report. Levi reportedly accused the spokespeople of lacking strategy against attacks by National Security Minister Ben Gvir, and warned officers that anyone who tried to run against him for commissioner would be fired.
Police Commissioner Danny Levi escalated internal tensions within the Israel Police on Thursday, threatening to close the entire spokespeople division during an emergency meeting, according to a report by the Maariv newspaper. Levi reportedly accused the police spokespeople of lacking a coherent strategy to counter attacks by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, a political rival who has repeatedly criticized the police leadership over its enforcement policy against Haredi protests.
Levi's warning included a stark message to senior officers: "Anyone who tried to run against me for commissioner is done; whoever doesn't fit the organization's values will be fired from here," as quoted by Maariv. The remarks reflect a deepening rift at the top of the police force, months into a public feud between Levi and Ben Gvir over operational independence. The internal crisis follows a series of earlier reports of friction between Levi and his spokespeople, including a sharp reprimand earlier this month over the enforcement of Haredi protest policing. It remains unclear whether Levi has formally initiated any process to shutter the division, and no further details on the meeting's outcome have emerged.
- DevelopingPolice commissioner reportedly reprimands spokespeople over Haredi protest enforcement
- StrongBen Gvir says he spoke with police commissioner, stun grenade use may be restricted or removed
- DevelopingPolice spokesperson says attacked by 'Democrats' party and MK Naama Lazimi over his work
- DevelopingEli Hirschman calls on Ben-Gvir, Police Commissioner to stop 'police violence'
Source and signal
A single-sourced dispatch is never rated Confirmed or Strong. Its Signal strengthens only when a second, independent source corroborates it.
- Internal intake