Senior police officials responded Wednesday evening to National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's assertion that the core dispute is not about the budget, asking why funding for public services remains stalled by the minister, Channel 12 News reports.
Wednesday evening, senior police officials publicly rebutted National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's assertion that the core dispute with the police leadership is not about the budget. According to Channel 12 News, the officials directly asked: "If there is no dispute over the budget, then why is the budget meant to serve Israeli citizens stuck by the minister?" This marks the latest escalation in a conflict that has unfolded publicly over the past hours.
The day's events began at around 18:00 Jerusalem, when Police Commissioner Danny Levi sent a formal letter to Ben Gvir warning that delays to the police budget are harming national security and public safety. The letter was also forwarded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Zioneer reported that same letter in three successive versions, with the commissioner escalating his language from an accusation of delaying the budget to a direct warning that national security is being harmed.
The broader context includes long-standing tensions between Ben Gvir and the police brass. As The Zioneer reported on Sep 8, the Finance Ministry and senior police officials have been exploring ways to transfer police funds directly, bypassing Ben Gvir's ministry. In July, the Attorney General informed the High Court that attempts to reach an understanding with Ben Gvir had failed over the principle of police independence. Earlier in June, the commissioner backed officers in a protest response after Ben Gvir had criticized them.
It is not yet known how Ben Gvir will respond to this latest pushback from the senior police officials. The back-and-forth continues to play out publicly, with the police budget and the minister's role at the center of a high-stakes political struggle.
4 developments
- DevelopingFinance Ministry, senior police officials reportedly working to bypass Ben Gvir on police funding
- DevelopingBen Gvir delays police officer promotions; Attorney General warns of 'extraneous considerations'
- DevelopingBen Gvir tells High Court attorney general unilaterally ended talks on police role
- StrongOfficers threaten High Court petition if Ben Gvir refuses to sign police appointments
Source and signal
- Open-source intake