Former Israeli Police Commander Attends Politically Charged Event Amid Investigation

Avishai Moalem, former commander of the Judea and Samaria District Police (YAMAR Shai) and the main suspect in the "Ben Gvir Associates" case, recently participated in a political event featuring Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, ministers, and Knesset members. The event, held at the Tower of David hotel in Jerusalem, was a tribute to the settlement movement in the Benjamin region and included explicit political and policy statements during an election campaign.

Moalem's attendance raised concerns as police regulations prohibit officers from engaging in politically affiliated activities to maintain public trust and police independence. Moalem, who has been on forced leave since his 2024 arrest and investigation by the Police Investigations Department (Mahash) on suspicions of avoiding arresting far-right activists to secure a promotion, currently works under a project manager combating crime in the Arab sector. He denies wrongdoing, claiming political persecution.

The event featured speeches by Netanyahu, who criticized new right-wing parties and urged them to unite or withdraw to avoid vote splitting, and Israel Gantz, head of the Benjamin Regional Council and Yesha Council chairman, who praised the government and called for sovereignty in Judea and Samaria. Invitations were extended to other senior police officers, including district commanders and the Central Command chief, but most declined due to the event's sensitive political nature.

The Israel Police stated the matter is under review by relevant authorities. The Benjamin Regional Council described the event as an annual tribute to the settlement community, inviting numerous security and military leaders to honor their contributions, rejecting claims of political bias.