Ben Gvir Halts Police Appointments Ahead of Elections

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir has clashed with Police Commissioner Danny Levi, ordering an immediate halt to a planned round of senior police appointments. Ben Gvir instructed Levi to cease all appointments until after the upcoming elections, stating that no senior officers would be appointed during the election period. The minister recalled proposing a round of appointments four months prior, reminding Levi that elections were approaching. He claimed the commissioner did not act then but recently submitted a list of urgent appointments.

Ben Gvir expressed concern that the timing of the appointments, approximately six weeks before the elections, could undermine public trust in the police and the appearance of governmental impartiality during a sensitive period. He asserted that senior officer appointments would not proceed until after the elections and suggested that the subsequent National Security Minister, regardless of their identity, should handle any new appointment rounds. However, Ben Gvir allowed for limited, urgent appointments with mutual agreement, subject to circumstances and necessity.

The dispute erupted after the commissioner sought to advance a wave of appointments at the top of the police force, which the minister abruptly canceled. A key point of contention reportedly involves the commissioner's intention to appoint Superintendent Tamar Liberty as deputy legal advisor to the police.