The office of the Police Commissioner responded to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, stating that Levi will continue with appointments and that the office expects the minister to support the process, according to a Channel 14 report.
The Police Commissioner's office on Sunday afternoon delivered a pointed response to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, stating that Commissioner Danny Levi will proceed with appointments and that the minister is expected to back the process. The response, reported by Channel 14, opened with the phrase 'Forgot his place' — a sharp rebuke that escalates the day's confrontation over control of senior police appointments. This comes after earlier conflicting signals from both sides.
The day's events began at approximately 15:17 Jerusalem time, when Ben Gvir announced he would block all police appointments until after the upcoming elections, accusing Levi of a 'zigzag' on the matter. Minutes later, a senior police official told N12 that the scheduled discussions between Levi and Ben Gvir would proceed as planned, and that the commissioner expects the minister to support the process. The new response from the commissioner's office, issued around 16:00, appears to harden the police leadership's stance, directly challenging Ben Gvir's authority over appointments.
The friction between Ben Gvir and the police command has been an ongoing feature of his tenure. As The Zioneer has reported, Ben Gvir has sought to expand his influence over law enforcement positions since assuming office, and has been engaged in a broader political consolidation of his Otzma Yehudit party. The current dispute centers on whether the minister can delay or dictate the appointment process, a matter that remains unresolved.
It remains unclear whether Ben Gvir will accept the commissioner's office's position or escalate further. The specific appointments at stake and the full scope of the commissioner's planned moves have not been detailed.
6 developments
- DevelopingBen Gvir delays police officer promotions; Attorney General warns of 'extraneous considerations'
- StrongDeputy AG demands police legal adviser probe Ben Gvir's political involvement in appointments
- StrongBen Gvir responds to police commissioner: No appointments before elections
- StrongAttorney General demands High Court dismiss Minister Ben Gvir ahead of elections
Source and signal
- Open-source intake